PAGASA announces onset of rainy season

It’s officially the onset of the rainy season, state weather bureau PAGASA announced on Thursday after it observed frequent rains due to the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat.

“Based on the weather observations and analyses, occasional to frequent rains associated with the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) have been observed over the past five days. This signifies the onset of the rainy season across the western sections of Luzon and the Visayas,” PAGASA said in a statement.

This comes almost a week after state meteorologists declared the start of the Habagat season, which is one of the precursors of the onset of the rainy season, last May 30.

But PAGASA noted there could be periods of reduced rainfall or monsoon breaks.

“However, periods of reduced rainfall, commonly referred to as monsoon breaks, may occur and last for several days or weeks,” the state weather bureau said.

Further, PAGASA said that with the looming El Niño, enhanced Habagat rainfall over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas is highly likely during the season.

PAGASA earlier warned that there is a 92% chance that the Habagat may coincide with a Super El Niño from June to August this year.

This is expected to cause more heavy rainfall due to the enhanced Habagat. According to PAGASA, during El Niño, the easterlies weaken and become westerlies, and there are instances when typhoons recurve during June, July, and August. When typhoons recurve, they end up pulling in our Habagat. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA News