Luzon’s Lowlands Increasingly Face Scorching Heat — PAGASA

Philippine weather until mid-2016 will likely be hottest in Luzon’s lowlands where government forecast maximum temperature of up to 42.2°C this May, the country’s warmest month when mean temperature is 28.3°C only.

Warmer-than-average temperature is among the prevailing strong El Niño phenomenon’s impacts on the country, warned State weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In its latest outlook, PAGASA said maximum temperature in Luzon’s lowlands can reach 36.7°C this month, then further increase up to about 39.6°C in March and April before peaking in May.

PAGASA expects maximum temperature in Luzon lowlands to begin easing afterwards, reaching up to 39.8°C in June and 40.2°C in July.

Earlier, PAGASA urged preparations for warmer-than-average air temperature as well as drought and dry spell conditions from below-normal rainfall as this agency expects the country to experience — during 2016’s first semester — the full impact of El Niño’s peak intensity.

El Niño peaked during 2015’s last quarter, noted PAGASA.

“There’s a lag time before we experience El Niño’s impact, however,” clarified PAGASA senior weather specialist Analiza Solis.

Authorities continue cautioning against possible heat cramps and heat exhaustion during hot weather.

They’re advising people to avoid full exposure to sunshine and to stay indoors as much as possible instead.

People must also drink plenty of water and wear light-colored clothing during hot weather, they noted.

Building-covered walkways will help shield people from the sun’s rays while planting trees and ground cover as well as hanging plants where possible will help temper heat, authorities also said.

For the Visayas’ lowlands, PAGASA forecast maximum temperature as surging up to 35.8°C (February), 37.8°C (March) and 38.2°C (April and May), then declining to 38°C (June) and 36.7°C (July) this year.

Mindanao’s lowlands will likely experience monthly maximum temperature of up to 38.5°C, 39.5°C, 39.0°C, 38.7°C, 38.4°C and 36.4°C from February to July, PAGASA said further.

PAGASA’s forecast further shows maximum temperature in mountainous areas of Luzon as reaching up to 27.4°C this February, 31.6°C in March, 29.8°C in April, 30.0°C in May, 29.4°C in June and 28.0°C in July.

Maximum temperature in Mindanao’s mountainous areas during the same months can be as high as 34.6°C, 34.9°C, 37.0°C, 36.6°C, 34.7°C and 33.2°C, respectively, PAGASA’s forecast also shows.

PAGASA provided no data for the Visayan uplands, however.

Aside from warmer-than-average temperature, PAGASA forecasts increasing drought incidence in the country from February to July this year due to El Niño.

Drought is three consecutive months of way below-normal rainfall condition and is marked by more than 60 percent reduction from average rainfall, PAGASA noted.

Also constituting drought is five consecutive months ofbelow-normal rainfall marked by a 21 percent to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall, the agency continued.

PAGASA said 25 provinces making up about 31 percent of the Philippines will likely experience drought by February’s end.

Such drought incidence will likely further increase to 38 percent of the country (30 provinces), 56 percent (45 provinces) and 68 percent (54 provinces) by the end of March, April and May, respectively, noted PAGASA.

The country’s possible drought-stricken areas by May’s end are Metro Manila as well as Luzon’s provinces of Abra, Ifugao, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon; the Visayas’ Aklan,Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Samar provinces, as well as Mindanao’s Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

“A strong El Niño persists,” PAGASA said in its Feb. 4, 2016 advisory on this drought-driving phenomenon, citing continuing positive sea surface temperature anomalies across most of the tropical Pacific Ocean.

PAGASA said latest model outputs indicate such El Niño’s weakening during the March-April-May 2016 period.

The models favor transition to neutral conditions around the May-June-July 2016 period, PAGASA added. (PNA) SCS/CJT/EDS