Dry season will come early this year — Pagasa
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2019 06:26:32 +0000
Dry season may come earlier than usual this year and could prolong the effects of El Niño, the weather bureau said on Wednesday.
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) climate information monitoring and prediction chief Analiza Solis said the dry season may be declared at the end of March, a few weeks earlier than last year. The dry season was declared on April 10, 2018.
Solis clarified that the Philippines, as a tropical country, has dry season and not summer as it is popularly called. She explained that winter, spring, summer or fall only occur in temperate countries.
Solis said the earlier onset of the dry season and the delay of the rainy season, which is expected to come later in June, may extend the dry spell and could lead to drought in more areas.
Pagasa expects 33 areas to experience drought by the end of May. In Luzon, these are Pangasinan, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Metro Manila, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon. In the Visayas, drought would affect Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar and Western Samar, while in Mindanao, Misamis Occidental and Dinagat Islands would be hit.
Solis said the prolonged dry season may also affect water reserves.
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