Cooler temperatures due in November — PAGASA

Filipinos can expect cooler temperatures starting November, when the southwest monsoon (Habagat) gives way to the northeast winds (Amihan), the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Thursday. PAGASA officer-in-charge Nathaniel Servando said they expect the transition from Habagat to Amihan to start in the later part of September. "At the least sa buwan na ito, inaasahan natin [na sa] latter part of September, magte-terminate ang southwest monsoon at pagkatapos, transition period from Habagat season to Amihan season. Diyan natin mararanasan ang malamig na ihip ng hangin lalo sa madaling araw," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. (At the earliest we expect the southwest monsoon to end and the northeast winds to come in. About November, that is when we can experience cool winds, especially before dawn.) He said that in Metro Manila, the present low temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius may drop to about 20 to 22 degrees. But when the Amihan season peaks in December and January, he said "posibleng makuha sa 20 (the lower temperatures will go down to 20 degrees)." Meanwhile, Servando said PAGASA continues to monitor weather conditions for a possible return of La Niña, a phenomenon characterized by heavy rain. He said this is significant as the Philippines can still expect six to seven cyclones for the rest of 2011. "Kadalasan sa ating experience ang bagyo during the last month of the year tumatama ng kalupaan at malakas (Our experience shows the cyclones that enter Philippine territory in the last months of the year tend to be fierce and are likely to make landfall)," he said. — RSJ, GMA News