PAGASA: Frequent rains but not yet rainy season

Despite frequent rains in the past few days, weather bureau PAGASA said the rainy season has not yet officially began.

PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said certain conditions have to be met before the agency declares the start of the wet season.

“Although nakakaramdam tayo ng mga thunderstorm tuwing hapon ay hindi pa po tayo naka-rainy season,” Torres told GMA Integrated News.

She says PAGASA continues to monitor the western section of the country.

“Dapat more than 50% ng stations sa Western section ng bansa natin o yung mga nasa Climate Type 1 ay makapagtala ng 25 millimeters or more na pag-ulan sa loob ng three days na magkakasunod na araw, three consecutive days na magkakasunod na araw. And then dapat meron silang at least 1 millimeter na daily rainfall,” Torres explained.

“Sa Climate Type 1, merong two pronounced seasons. So dry during November to April and wet the rest of the year,” she added.

Torres says that among the areas being monitored are Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, Vigan City in Ilocos Sur, Dagupan City in Pangasinan, Zambales, San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, the Pagasa Science Garden in Quezon City, NAIA, and Batangas.

Torres advised the public to monitor advisories from PAGASA and to always be prepared for changes in the weather.

“Napapansin nga natin na may kainitan and then biglang uulan and then mainit ulit. Ito po kasi ay signature ng mga thunderstorms. So yung mga thunderstorms kasi natin, posible yung biglaang buhos ng ulan. So advise pa rin natin sa ating mga kababayan na lagi pa ring magdadala ng payong,” Torres said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News