PAGASA: Northeast monsoon to make last sweep before summer

While the past days may be getting warmer, the northeast monsoon may still make one last whip this week before summer finally sets in, state weather forecasters said Tuesday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the monsoon is now in extreme northern Luzon and may still bring rains. "Kung pagbabasehan natin sa pagdating ng summer ay ang absence ng northeast monsoon, hindi pa summer ngayon. Ngayong araw lalakas uli ang amihan at sa susunod na mga araw. Although mataas ang na-record na temperature for today, inaasahan natin bukas bababa uli ito, pero ang lamig di tulad ng previous days na pumapalo sa 21 degrees," PAGASA forecaster Sonny Pajarilla said in an interview on dzBB radio. (If we define summer by the absence of the northeast monsoon, we cannot say summer is here. Besides, we expect the northeast monsoon to intensify in the coming days. So the temperature may go down again in the coming days, although it will no longer be as cold as in past weeks.) He said Monday's lowest temperature was at 24.8 degrees Celsius at 2 a.m., while early Tuesday's lowest recorded temperature was at 25.2 degrees. The past days had been warm and humid, he added. "Inaasahan natin nasa 33 ang magiging maximum ngayong araw (We expect the highest temperature Tuesday to hit 33 degrees)," he said. Meanwhile, PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin indicated a wind convergence was affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. "Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms. The rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," it said. Late summer While La Niña conditions are still prevailing over the country, PAGASA said Filipinos can expect summer to start late this year, and feel the heat starting April because the northeast monsoon's cold weather may last until end of March. "Last Monday, PAGASA weather bureau head Robert Sawi said in an interview on dwIZ radio that the La Niña phenomenon still prevailing, as can be seen in rains on parts of Visayas and Mindanao. Also, he said the northeast monsoon is still bringing cold weather but temperatures will start going up in April. But as of now, he noted temperatures are still cool especially in the early morning, while rains still fall on some areas. Sawi also said the late arrival of summer is not a new phenomenon. "Nangyari na ito noon (This has already happened before." Only last week, rains caused flash floods and landslides in parts of Visayas and Mindanao. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said at least 14 were killed while at least two remain missing in areas affected by the rains. — LBG, GMA News