‘Stronger Typhoons’ Feared as Dry Spell Hits PHL

State weather agency said the Philippines is likely to be hit by stronger typhoons this year as the warming ocean surfaces contribute to the upcoming dry spell.

Weather chief Vicente Malano, in an interview over GMA News Online, said the Asian archipelago which is often visited by about 20 typhoons and storms each year, is now in the grips of the “El Niño” phenomenon.

He said that this phenomenom can make storms “stronger” and more “erratic.”

Malanao also said that El Niño may cause erratic behavior of tropical cyclones that can affect their tracks and intensity.

He added that the same number of storms are expected.

“The tropical cyclone tracks are expected to shift northward and (their) intensity could become stronger,” Malano said over GMA News Online report.

“El Niño” phenomenon refers to the abnormal warming of surface ocean waters in the eastern tropical sections of the Pacific Ocean every three to five years.

Report said this phenomenon, which the weather service said it began observing last December, leads to drier-than-average conditions on one side of the Pacific and wetter ones on the opposite coast.

Source: GMA News Online