RESIDENTS in Cebu and Central Visayas can expect generally fair weather this week, as the onset of the rainy season has yet to begin, according to the state weather bureau.
Despite the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) bringing rain showers to Mindanao and the easterlies affecting other parts of the country, including Metro Manila, the criteria for the start of the wet season have not yet been met, according to Ana Dumdum, a weather specialist at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Visayas.
Dumdum said in a phone interview on Sunday, May 18, 2025, that the consistent rainfall and wind patterns necessary to declare the rainy season have not been recorded.
“Wala pa na-meet ang standards to transition in the rainy season which is expected by end of May (We have not recorded the consistent rainfall and wind patterns needed to declare the start of the wet season),” she said.
The rainy season is typically expected by the end of May.
Pagasa Visayas’ forecast from Sunday to Thursday, May 22, states that Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas will likely continue to experience fair weather, with no weather disturbances being monitored.
However, localized thunderstorms remain possible, particularly in the afternoon or evening, according to Dumdum.
Nationwide, Pagasa’s 24-hour forecast issued at 4 a.m. on Sunday reported cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Mindanao, Eastern Visayas and Palawan due to the ITCZ.
No low-pressure area is currently being monitored inside or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
In Cebu, the heat index may peak at 39 degrees Celsius, with air temperatures ranging between 26 and 33 degrees Celsius.
The heat index refers to the temperature felt by the human body when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.
Residents are advised to prepare for hot and humid conditions despite the absence of widespread rainfall. / CDF