Rains to come late in June

The prevailing El Niño dry spell will delay the onset of the rainy season by a week or two, the

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday.

With about 60 percent of the country in the grip of drought conditions since late last year,

Pagasa revised its earlier forecast that the rains will start by mid-June.

State meteorologist Gener Quitlong said the rainy season usually starts between the last week of

May up to the middle of June. “But because of El Niño, the hot weather might extend up to the third week or end of June,” he said.

“The southwest monsoon is not here yet,” he added, referring to the wind system that brings rains during the country’s so-called typhoon season.

The delay in the onset of the rainy seasons means the hot and humid weather felt in the past three months will continue.

Humid weather

A ridge of high pressure area currently affects northern and central Luzon and will bring continued hot and humid weather over most of the country, according to Pagasa.

Quitlong said there have been years when the rainy season was similarly delayed because of El Niño.

El Niño is characterized by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.

In the western Pacific where the Philippines is, the phenomenon causes dry conditions, decreased rainfall and warmer air temperatures.

In its latest bulletin last June 3, Pagasa said about 60 percent of the country was affected by either drought or dry spell from October last year to May this year.

Full impact

Last May, 80 percent of the country received below to way below normal rainfall.

Pagasa originally forecast that in June, rainfall will be back to almost normal over most of

Visayas and Mindanao while many areas in Luzon including Metro Manila will likely receive below normal rainfall.

Pagasa warned that the current “weak” El Niño will begin to intensify to “moderate” strength in August and will last up to early next year.

As a result, the weather bureau said from August to December, most parts of the country will get less than the usual rainfall they receive during the rainy season.

“We are seeing the impact of a very dry condition from August onwards… In October we will feel the full impact of El Niño,” state climatologist Anthony Lucero had said.

Preparations

But Pagasa also said the country may expect to get “ample” rain in June, with at least one up to two cyclones expected to hit the country during this month.

The weather bureau said rainfall will start to decrease starting July.

In Cebu City, the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) office set aside P1.1 million to help repair and rehabilitate artesian wells in the urban barangays.

“We started the repair and rehabilitation last January until present. This is also part of the

city’s preparations for the El Niño,” City Councilor Dave Tumulak said.
Tumulak, who heads the CCDRRMC, said the funds were used to purchase equipment to repair existing wells in the city.
Calamity status

He said there are 1,284 operational artesian wells in the city.

“We also request the public to report to the Cebu City Command Control Center if there are artesian wells that need repair or rehab,” he said.

He said the “Tubig Project” is part of the programs of the Department of Public Services (DPS) which asked for the council’s help to secure more funds.

Last month, the Cebu City Council declared several barangays in the city, mostly mountain barangays, under calamity status due to water shortage caused by the El Niño dry spell./Inquirer with a story from Reporter Jose Santino S. Bunachita