MANILA, Philippines (Updated 11:54 a.m.) — What Filipinos call "summer" is officially here after the state weather bureau PAGASA officially declared the start of dry season.
The bureau likewise terminated the Amihan season or the cool northeast monsoon.
With PAGASA’s declaration, the public can now expect warmer and humid days ahead. Hot temperature is expected to peak around May.
"The day to day weather will gradually become warmer and drier in the coming weeks partly due to the dominance of the ridge of North Pacific High Pressure area and easterlies. This would also signify the start of the dry season," PAGASA said.
"However, some isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon or evening particularly over the eastern sections due to localize convection," it added.
Technically, however, there is no summer season in the Philippines and other tropical countries. Only northern parts of Asia, America, Australia and Europe experience summer.
Last year, PAGASA declared the onset of summer on March 18.
The public can also expect moderate to accossional rough coastal waters particularly over the eastern section of Luzon and Visayas due to the strong easterly wind. On the other hand, Mindanao will have scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone or the passage of easterly waves.