Pagasa: Rainy season is here

MANILA, Philippines - Get your umbrellas ready – the rainy season is here.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) yesterday officially declared the onset of the rainy season in the western section of the Philippines, which includes the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Metro Manila and Western Visayas.

Pagasa weather forecaster Nonoy About said the southwest monsoon is now the prevailing wind system in the country.

“Despite the onset of the rainy season, we cannot expect torrential rains in the coming days because the southwest wind flow is still weak,” About said.

About said all the criteria for declaring the rainy season have been met, including a 25-millimeter rainfall requirement and a southwest monsoon that should be the prevailing wind system.

He said the early migration of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is enhancing the southwest wind flow over the western and southern parts of the country.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said breaks in rain periods could be expected before the normal peak of the rainy season in July and August.

About said at least 10 tropical cyclones are likely to enter the country between June and September.

About said Metro Manila will experience partly cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms especially during the afternoon and evening.

Northern and Central Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms.