PAGASA-Visayas: La Niña Between Oct 2016 until Feb 2017

PAGASA-Visayas Director Oscar Tabada urged the public to prepare for the onslaught of La Niña which is expected to occur starting October this year and will extend until February of 2017.

“There is 75 percent chance of La Niña to happen and that most often, it happens after a strong El Niño,” said Tabada during a presentation on ‘El Niño/La Niña Watch and Weather Outlook’ to some officials and representatives of regional line agencies.

La Niña is characterized by unusually cold surface temperatures of the ocean and is associated with abnormal heavy rainfall, temperature and tropical cyclones.

Tabada said La Niña’s strength can be visibly felt by November, December and January as the country expects 14 to15 tropical cyclones before the year ends.

With La Niña, there will be more cyclones, stronger typhoons and severe flooding, said the PAGASA-Visayas chief adding that its effects are more disastrous than El Niño.

“Visayas and Mindanao will be more affected by La Niña compared to Luzon,” bared Tabada due to the prevalence of ‘habagat’ or south west monsoon which brings frequent heavy rainfall.

Tabada specifically warned Cebuanos to be vigilant as Cebu is the target of typhoons during the last quarter of the year based on past trend.

In his presentation, the prediction is that the Philippines will continue to experience El Niño and La Niña even up to 2080 while Central Visayas is at high risk.

Currently, there are 13 Doppler radars including the one in Mactan, Cebu to help provide accurate weather forecast while the radars are also capable of measuring rainfall including the possibility of flooding, said Tabada.

Tabada said two radars are now being set up and additional four new ones have been purchased of which Bohol is one recipient.

The public is advised to check the daily weather forecast at pagasa.dost.gov.ph and click regional forecast and again click Visayas to find out the details of the current weather situation. (fcr/PIA7)