COMPARED to the northern part of the country, the state weather bureau expects a warmer December for the Visayas region.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Cebu Weather Bureau Chief Al Quiblat said this is because the northeast monsoon or hanging amihan will continue to dominate Luzon.

Hanging amihan is cold and dry air coming from the northeast which results in moderate rainfall and cold wind in the Philippines.

However, Quiblat explained that while the average normal temperature in the Visayas for December should be 30.3 degrees Celsius, the highest heat index recorded by the bureau so far has been 39 degrees Celsius on Dec. 7, 2019.

“So far our recorded temperature for the month of December goes beyond normal, so the Visayas region should expect a warmer month,” said Quiblat.

As of 12:55 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, Pagasa-Mactan recorded the temperature in the Visayas at 31 degrees Celsius with a heat index of 37 degrees Celsius.

Quiblat said climate change is a factor for the warmer temperatures even as the “ber” months were supposed to signal the start of colder days.

Because December 2019 is expected to be a warm month, Pagasa reminds the public to keep themselves hydrated all the time. (RSR)