Amidst record-breaking summer temperatures, rain showers have begun making their presence felt and will even increase in frequency in the coming days as the country’s transition to the rainy season gets underway, the state weather bureau announced Tuesday, May 14.

With occurrences of local thunderstorms in various parts of the country, including a brief hail storm reported in Quezon City, PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin Dela Cruz-Galicia said these phenomena are naturally experienced in May, considered as the ‘thunderstorm month.’

“Papunta na po tayo sa transition, papunta pong tag-ulan o rainy season sa bansa,” she told Balitanghali on March 14. 

“Sa atin pong mga analysis, posible po na sa mga darating na araw, mas magiging frequent pa 'yung mga passing rain showers o 'yung mga pag-kidlat, pag-kulog sa hapon at gabi sa mga susunod na araw,” Galicia added.

Certain parts of the archipelago have been experiencing momentary rainfalls the past couple of days, a welcome sight for Filipinos given the extreme heat brought by the El Niño phenomenon. 

PAGASA, however, clarified that these occurrences aren’t enough proof yet to declare a full-fledged rainy season. 

“Mayroon tayong tinitingnang criteria para masabi na onset na ng tag-ulan o simula na sa bansa, pero sa ngayon ay hindi pa ito nasa-satisfy, so transition pa lang po,” she said, noting that the country’s wet season typically comes during the latter part of May or early June.

PAGASA also said that La Niña, a climate pattern that brings cooler winds and heavier rains, will only intensify come ‘-ber’ months.

“Sa analysis naman po ng PAGASA, meron po tayong 65% to 70% na magkakaroon o magsisimula ang mahina o weak La Niña by June, July, and August hanggang September, October…and then opo eventually lalakas po 'yung La Niña episode natin by the end of the year,” said Galicia..

According to a May 7 report by GMA Integrated News, the state weather agency urged Filipinos to prepare for La Niña, particularly those residing in flood-prone areas.