PAGASA may declare start of El Niño by July

State weather bureau PAGASA may declare the start of the El Niño phenomenon next month, Vonne Aquino reported Thursday on “State of the Nation”.

“Kung may persistency na tinatawag nating pattern from April, May, June. Itong June kasi titingnan muna natin…so by July maaari nating ma-pronounce or maaari na nating ma-declare na nag set-in na ‘yung El Niño,” said PAGASA weather specialist Joey Figuracion.

(If there’s a persistence of our so-called pattern from April, May, June. We have yet to observe it this June but we may declare the start of El Niño by July.)

The El Niño phenomenon is characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and below-normal rainfall.

“Sa reduction ng rainfall, nakikita natin sa forecast ay sa latter part pa ng taon which is October, November, December pa ang pinaka-makikita natin ang pattern na may reduction sa ulan o deficit sa ulan,” Figuracion added.

(As for the rainfall reduction, we may forecast that in the latter part of the year which is October, November, and December when we can see a reduction in the amount of rain or the rainfall deficit.)

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) met earlier to discuss water conservation measures including the installation of water catchment units in various areas to gather rainfall.

“Pwede tayong mag set-up ng water catchment unit kung saan ang tubig ulan imbes na ito po ay dumaloy lang papunta sa ating mga drain pwede natin itong saluhin, imbakin at gamitin muli so we can reuse and recycle rainwater,” said MMC President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora.  (We can setup rainwater catchment units.)

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing for the possible spread of viral diseases connected to El Niño. It also warned against the population increase of mosquitoes due to climate change and the spike in dengue cases in the last decade, particularly in the US.

"WHO is preparing for the very high probability that 2023 and 2024 will be marked by an El Niño event, which could increase transmission of dengue and other so-called arboviruses, such as Zika and chikungunya,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. -- Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA Integrated News