CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–In response to the public’s inquiry on the subsequent rainy season and to increase the climate awareness and preparedness of the people in Mindanao, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) clarified that the region is in the cycle of La Niña.
“I would like to explain that the La Niña is the dominant driving force that influences our rainfall pattern,” said Anthony Joseph Lucero, the weather services chief of Mindanao PAG-ASA Regional Services Division, during the “Ang Rehiyon Karon” radio program, January 26.
Lucero recounted that the tropical Pacific has been experiencing La Niña for the past two years and that they expect it to end between March and April this year.
“Amihan (the North East Monsoon) will last until February—late February, so perhaps it will stop or it will end in mid-March. So, we still expect that we will have more rainfall until February. In fact, above normal,” said Lucero.
He further confirmed that the coldest month of 2023 will be February, as per observation.
Once La Niña ends, the climate will return to neutral conditions before the expected development of El Niño.
Lucero assured that they will closely monitor the patterns and that if La Nia returns, they will notify the public six months in advance.
He reminded them that the suspension of classes is done through the judgment and action of the local government. PAG-ASA’s only objective is to immediately relay weather and climate information to advise or warn the public. (TAAG/PIA-10)
