Hot and cold: Mixed temperatures expected as El Niño meets Amihan

With the onset of the Amihan (Northeast Monsoon) season, the state weather bureau is expecting mixed temperatures across the country as it coincides with the El Niño phenomenon.

In a "24 Oras" report from Mark Salazar on Wednesday, Antipolo City — a highland — is experiencing 30 degrees Celsius. To many Antipolo residents, it still felt like summer.

While many may not experience it, PAGASA had already declared the start of the Amihan season.

“Yung northeasterly wind flow nagsisimula po talaga yan sa northeastern part ng ating bansa… and eventually hanggang maging dominant na ‘yan hangin galing Siberian High. At saka bababa sa Central Luzon and eventually papuntang Bicol,” PAGASA weather specialist John Manalo said.

(The northeasterly wind flow has started in the northeastern part of our country…. And eventually the wind from the Siberian High will become dominant. It will then go down to Central Luzon and eventually towards Bicol.)

Many parts of the country can expect colder weather, but many others could expect hotter weather.

“Well, sa ngayon ay actually, 100% na possible na papunta tayo, patungo tayo sa very strong El Niño…So possible po na tayo ay both maiimplumensiyahan ng Northeast monsoon, so nandyan pa rin po iyong malamig na simoy ng hangin, pero magkakaroon din po tayo ng manakanakang mga pag-init ng ating temperature,” said Ana Liza Solis, chief of PAGASA’s Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section.

(Well for now actually, it is 100% possible that we are headed towards a very strong El Niño… So it is possible that we are both influenced by the Northeast monsoon, so the cold breeze is there, but we will also have sporadic high temperatures.)

Manalo explained that in Benguet, temperatures could range from -5 degrees Celsius to 0.5 degrees Celsius. In Metro Manila, temperatures could range by 0.5 degrees Celsius to 2 degrees Celsius.

While some may not be bothered by the El Niño phenomenon, some are worried for their livelihood.

“Wala po kaming choice kundi maghanap-buhay tulad nung may COVID kailangan namin magtindang mag-nanay kasi wala po kaming nahihingian ng tulong,” said street vendor Rosette.

(We do not have a choice other than to keep working because like with COVID we need to sell as mother and daughter because we have no one to ask help from.) — BAP, GMA News