Wednesday's rains do not signal El Niño's end — PAGASA

The rains that fell on parts of Metro Manila late Wednesday do not signal the El Niño weather phenomenon is coming to an end, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Thursday. PAGASA forecaster Buddy Javier said Wednesday's rains were localized thunderstorms caused by the summer heat, which reached 37.3 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila. On the other hand, PAGASA's extended forecast also indicated Metro Manila may experience another 37˚C day this Thursday. "Di pa po. Yan dulot ng localized thunderstorm kapag sobrang init (El Niño is not finished. Wednesday's rains were due to localized thunderstorms caused by the extreme heat)," Javier said in an interview on dwIZ radio. He also said it is possible the country may experience hotter days ahead, although Thursday may be cooler than the previous days due to a cold front affecting parts of Luzon. In a separate interview, PAGASA forecaster Mario Palafox said the hail that hit parts of Cavite was similarly due to the severe thunderstorm. Meanwhile, PAGASA said a low-pressure area and a cold front will bring rains to Palawan and Mindanao, and to some parts of the country. It said that as of 2 a.m., the LPA was estimated at 210 km northwest of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, while the cold front is affecting extreme Northern Luzon. "Northern and Central Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered light rains while Mindanao and Palawan will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening, it added. Meanwhile, temperatures for Metro Manila will range from 25 to 37˚C for Metro Manila, and 23 to 38 degrees for Tuguegarao City. The 37˚C weather in Metro Manila may be expected until Friday, PAGASA's extended forecast said. — LBG, GMANews.TV