Cebu Has Below Normal Rainfall since January – PAGASA

Cebu is currently experiencing a below normal rainfall since the start of the year, a weather specialist said.

Alfredo Quiblat Jr., Senior Weather Specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Mactan station, said a dry spell can only be declared by PAGASA when a certain area experiences 20 to 60 percent reduction in average rainfall for three consecutive months.

A drought would be declared when there is already above 60 percent reduction in average rainfall for the same period, Quiblat said.

Quiblat said that from January to April, the province recorded a shortage of rainfall that is equivalent to 320,000 barrels in a square kilometer.

“In January, we had 40 percent below normal rainfall. February was near normal with 70 percent average but we reached 72. In March, it was below 30 percent. That’s why Pagasa declared Cebu is under a dry spell already” he said.

Quiblat said the El Niño may still intensify before the end of the year despite the expected arrival of the rainy season in the middle of June until September.

Earlier, PAGASA said Cebu will experience some rains until Thursday despite the dry spell.

But the dry spell is expected to last until the end of the year.

Quiblat said they are urging the public to take advantage of the rainy days by storing water. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS