'Disastrous' El Niño likely to end in June — Pagasa
‘Disastrous’ El Niño likely to end in June — Pagasa
MANILA, Philippines: The El Niño phenomenon, which brought havoc to the country, would likely end next month, the top official of the state-run weather agency said on Friday.
Nathaniel Servando, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) administrator, told The Manila Times via Viber that it started to weaken but it would continue to affect the country in the coming days.
Citing data and analysis, Servando said the onset of the rainy season could be declared from June 1 to June 15.
“Although during the second half of May, afternoon showers due to localized thunderstorms are expected,” the Pagasa chief said.
But with the El Nino event still affecting many areas in the country, “beyond [the] June 15 wet season onset is still possible,” he added.
Meanwhile, the official said 13 to 16 tropical cyclones are possible to form or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) until the end of the year.
He said the first would be named “Aghon” when it enters PAR early next week and will probably affect areas in Mindanao.
Weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the frontal system or surface – defined as a transition boundary separating two air masses of contracting properties like temperature and humidity – is affecting extreme Northern Luzon, particularly Batanes and Cagayan, where scattered rain showers and thunderstorms would prevail.
He said the easterlies, on one hand, would affect larger areas in the country where humid and warm weather could be experienced until over the weekend.
The El Nino phenomenon caused damage to agriculture estimated at P4 billion.