PAGASA expects wet season to begin late May or early June

The wet season in the Philippines may begin in the last week of May or the first week of June, according to state weather bureau PAGASA on Thursday.

“Base sa pinapakita ng mga model, posible na po ng mga last of May or first week of June [yung simula ng rainy season],” PAGASA weather specialist Charmagne Varilla told GMA News Online.

(Based on the forecast models, the rainy season may begin in the last week of May or the first week of June.)

Last year, the rainy season was officially declared on June 2.

Varilla explained that PAGASA measures the rainfall and observes the direction of the wind to determine the beginning of the rainy season.

“Dapat meron tayong mga stations na naka-record po ng more than 25 millimeters na rainfall, consecutive 'yan, for the next five days, tapos 'yung direction ng hangin natin dapat southwestward,” Varilla said.

(Our stations must record more than 25 millimeters of consecutive rainfall for the next five days, then the wind should be southwestward.)

“So far, yun yung mga initial na tinitingnan natin, and for the meantime kasi, easterlies pa rin ang nagpe-prevail sa system natin, so hindi pa southwestward ang hangin natin, kaya wala pa tayong na-de-declare,” she added.

(So far, that’s what we initially observe. In the meantime, easterlies prevail in our weather system, so the wind is not moving southwestward, and we cannot declare it yet.)

In a public briefing, PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said the country is currently in the transition period between the dry and wet seasons.

“So patungo na po tayo sa wet season, at ito na nga po yung senyalis, yung mas madalas na mga thunderstorms, lalo na po sa dakong hapon hanggang gabi,” Estareja said.

(So we are heading into the wet season, and this is the sign: the more frequent thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon to evening.)

He added that Luzon would experience hot temperatures in the morning and rain in the afternoon.

Estareja also warned of possible flooding or landslides due to thunderstorms. —VBL, GMA News