Pagasa: Start of dry season within the week

MANILA – The state weather bureau is set to officially declare the start of the dry or summer season within the next two to three days with the termination of the northeast monsoon.

Weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Monday said the northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan” dissipated before dawn Sunday.

“Nawala na ang northeast monsoon at nagsisimula ng umiral ang easterlies sa ating bansa,” Aurelio said adding that the easterlies or “warm” winds from the east affect the eastern section of the country.

“Nakikita rin namin na magkakaroon ng ridge of high pressure area (HPA) sa mga susunod na araw at ito ang magiging dominant weather system natin sa loob ng dalawa hanggang tatlong araw. Kaya posibleng bago mag-Miyerkules magde-deklara na kami ng pagsisimula ng dry season o summer,” he added.

With the presence of the easterlies and the ridge of the HPA, which is the opposite of a low pressure area (LPA), Aurelio said that temperatures in the country in the next few days are expected to rise again.

Aurelio noted that until Wednesday, most parts of the country will generally have “fair and sunny” weather.

However, he said that “brief” passing rains in the afternoon or evening is still possible due to localized thunderstorms or convections.

Aurelio added that no tropical cyclone is expected to affect the country in the next two to three days.

Pagasa has yet to declare summer in the country since the “criteria” have yet to be met.

The weather bureau earlier said that dry or summer season begins when the northeast monsoon is no longer present; when a high-pressure area is present; and the easterlies or warm air from the Pacific Ocean prevails.

In its advisory, Pagasa said that Cagayan Valley and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon, Bicol region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Davao region will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms.

The temperature in Metro Manila will range from 22-33 degrees Celsius for Monday.

Light to moderate blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and coming from the east to northeast prevail the rest of the country.

The coastal water throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate. (PNA/Sunnex)