Friday, September 28, 2007 Pag-asa announces onset of weak La Niña
IT IS early phase of a weak La Nina that is continuously affecting rainfall patterns, according to an advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services administration (Pag-asa).
Pag-asa Acting Director Martin F. Rellin Jr. said the recent oceanic and atmospheric conditions in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific signify the occurrence of the early phase of a weak La Nina event.
Rellin said the weak La Nina episode is expected to be confirmed by persistent oceanic and atmospheric patterns in the next two months, as dynamical and statistical model forecast would suggest that La Nina conditions will strengthen and persist through the end of the year and in the early months of 2008.
Pagasa said this condition over the equatorial Pacific will consequently influence climate conditions in the country and will bring normal to above normal rainfall conditions over the Visayas, some areas in Luzon and Mindanao towards the end of September.
Further, Pagasa said, more wet than normal conditions are, likewise, expected over the Visayas and some areas of Luzon , including Metro Manila, from October through December.
Pagasa added as the weak La Nina strengthens, it will adversely impact on domestic water supply, agriculture and health sector and will bring about flashfloods and rain-induced landslides in hazard-prone areas.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) conducted a Disaster Management Forum to guide the towns, especially the more vulnerable areas, on what to do as La Nina continues to bring in intermittent heavy rains.
In a related development, the PDCC will hold its monthly meeting on October 2, 2007, in Igbaras, Iloilo , in commemoration of the 1st anniversary of the Masungsungon Tragedy. (PIA 6/ESS)
