353 mm of rain in 26 days
-A A +AFriday, January 28, 2011
THE amount of rainfall in Cebu has reached three times the normal level.
According to weather bureau chief Oscar Tabada, 353 millimeters (mm) of rain fell between Jan. 1 and Jan. 26, which is three times more than the volume of 107.8 mm recorded in the same period last year.
Tabada said the current volume of rainfall implies that Metro Cebu will have more floods and landslides.
Cebu will be cloudy in the next few days and will have light to moderate rain.
Tabada said measurements taken by the bureau showed 100 mm of rain may have fallen in the SM-Mandaue City area last Tuesday.
He said 10 times the normal amount of rain fell in less than two hours that day, flooding parts of Metro Cebu.
Normally, rainfall at this time of the month ranges between 3.33 mm and 3.67 mm. Last Tuesday, the rainfall was measured at 35.7 mm.
Tabada described the phenomenon that day as a “cloudburst” wherein clouds concentrated over the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu. The rainwater collected in the clouds and poured in less than two hours in a small area.
He said the peak of La Niña, a phenomenon of rains, has passed but its effects will continue to be felt until March.
Expect a wet summer and an early rainy season, Tabada said.
He said he has noticed an increase in number of storm surges and soil erosion in Talisay City, signs that the sea level is rising as an effect of climate change.
He said local government units and agencies should implement climate change adaptation measures to cope with the change in global weather patterns.
The floods and heavy rains caused some schools to suspend classes.
Among them were the elementary schools in Kalunasan, Cebu City and in Basak, Guizo, Tipolo and Subangdako, Mandaue City.
The Valencia Vocational School in Carcar City, three schools in Naga City and another one in Talisay City also suspended their classes. Four schools in Negros Oriental did not hold classes as well.
The Department of Education (DepEd) gives the schools the discretion to suspend classes during typhoons, floods and other calamities.
The rains likewise prevented three fastcraft from sailing last Tuesday, stranding several passengers at the Cebu City port.
Weesam and Supercat cancelled their trips to Ormoc City, and Golden Express to Camotes Island, the Cebu Coast Guard said.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on January 28, 2011.
Local news
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