Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 4) — A “weak” El Niño has started, the state weather bureau said on Tuesday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the El Niño phenomenon could cause dry spells and droughts in the country in the last quarter of the year and the first half of 2024.
\”Pormal nang dineklara ng PAGASA ang pagkakaroon ng El Niño sa Dagat Pasipiko na maaring magkaroon ng epekto sa bansa,\” said Ana Liza Solis, chief of PAGASA’s climate monitoring and prediction section, in a press briefing.
[Translation: PAGASA formally declares the start of El Niño in the Pacific Ocean, which could affect our country.]
PAGASA warned that the reduction in rainfall could start by October 2023.
\”Mayroong init na nangyayari sa Pacific…Suma total, ang epekto ay kulang ang ulan na dumarating sa Pilipinas,\” Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum explained.
[Translation: There is currently a warmth in the Pacific…To sum it up, the effect of this is reduced rainfall in the Philippines.]
The state weather bureau said that at least 28 areas could experience dry conditions and 36 others may record dry spells at the end of 2023.
Camarines Norte and Southern Leyte could experience drought by the end of the year.
PAGASA also said that by January 2024, at least 26 areas in Luzon, including Metro Manila, may experience drought.
However, the state weather bureau noted that these forecasts are based on recent conditions in the Tropical Pacific.
\”These are based on recent conditions in the Tropical Pacific, ito pong nade-develop na (this developing) El Niño, which is weak pa lang po siya, and then nakikita po natin na pwede siyang mag-strengthen in the coming months (which is still weak and we can see it getting stronger in the coming months),\” said Solis.
\”Therefore, uncertainty is high, and updates will be issued by PAGASA.\” he added.
