MANILA, Philippines – The state weather bureau may soon announce the start of the dry season as temperatures across the country begin to rise.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said Metro Manila sizzled to a scorching 34.2 degrees Celsius on Monday afternoon, the hottest recorded so far this year.
Weather forecaster Chris Perez said the hotter temperature experienced in the past days was caused by the easterlies, or warm winds coming from the Pacific.
He said they will analyze if there will be last minute surges of the northeast monsoon, which brings colder temperature to the country.
“But dry season, or what others call the summer season, is just around the corner,” he added.
Partial solar eclipse
Meanwhile, PAGASA said the country would have clear skies today, which will enable Filipinos to observe the partial solar eclipse this morning.
The agency earlier said that areas in Mindanao would have a good view of the partial solar eclipse, having an eclipse obscuration of up to 80 percent, while Luzon and the Visayas areas’ eclipse obscuration will range from 30 to 60 percent and 60 to 70 percent, respectively.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring the image of the sun as viewed from the earth.
A penumbral lunar eclipse will also occur on March 23 and will be visible in the country.