MANILA -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday officially announced the onset of the dry season.
The country will gradually become warmer, though isolated thunderstorms are likely to occur, it said.
PAGASA Administrator Vicente Manalo, in a statement, said the shift of wind direction from northeasterly to easterly due to the establishment of the high- pressure area over the Northwestern Pacific signifies the termination of the northeast monsoon over most parts of the country and the start of the dry season.
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), PAGASA climate monitoring chief Analiza Solis said the dry season may last until the first or second week of May.
She added that the "weak El Nino" had an impact for the early onset of the dry season. "Normally, the dry season begins in April. Since it started early, the duration will also be a bit prolonged," she said.
Solis said that during dry season, rain showers will be greatly reduced. The public must also expect hotter or higher temperatures.
Meanwhile, Solis said PAGASA associates dry season to summer, but clarified that the Philippines does not have a "summer".
"We don't call it 'summer'. We only have wet and dry season," she added.
Solis added that summer is for areas that have winter, spring and fall, and that summer usually falls every July in some areas. (PNA)
