PAGASA: El Niño may further strengthen

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday said the on-going El Niño event is predicted to further strengthen and persist until the second quarter of 2016.

The weather bureau reported that the recent observation suggests that the sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) above 1.5 degree Celsius have been increasing in the equatorial Pacific since mid-July 2015 indicative of the strong El Niño experienced by the country.

“A number of climate models show that the ongoing El Niño event is comparable or may even surpass the SSTAs observed during the 1997 – 1998 El Niño,” PAGASA Acting Administrator Vicente Malano said.

“It is also predicted that the current El Niño and associated SST warning may further strengthen and is likely to persist until the second quarter of 2016,” he added.

PAGASA said the country will experience warmer than normal air temperature as a result.

The country is also projected to have below normal rainfall, possibly leading to dry spell and drought conditions in most part of the country until the first quarter of 2016.

The weather bureau assured the public that they are closely monitoring the ongoing El Niño and will issue regular advisories to inform them of their findings.

PAGASA also advised the public including concerned agencies to take precautionary measures that could ease the impacts of the El Niño.