Metro Manila to experience drought in April and May – Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines —  Metro Manila will experience a “meteorologically drought condition” in April and May, amid the current strong El Niño phenomenon in the country, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Meteorologically drought condition occurs when there is a big reduction of rainfall for three to five consecutive months, PAGASA Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section head Ana Lisa Solis said in an interview.

“By end of April or May, Metro Manila will be under what we call meteorologically drought condition, it will experience a prolonged dry spell which already started last month and will continue next month. Few rains are expected in Metro Manila so there will be a big reduction in rainwater,” Solis said.

Solis added that the light rains experienced in Metro Manila yesterday were brought by the northeast monsoon but have no significant impact.

“Northeast monsoon will continue to affect the extreme Luzon area, including Metro Manila. These areas will experience cloudy to isolated rainshowers brought by amihan (northeast monsoon) but then we won’t see a significant impact,” Solis added.

At the same time, Solis asked the public to conserve water to preserve the elevation of Angat Dam.

“Although (the water level of) Angat Dam remains at above rule curve but then we see a prolonged reduction of rains, so it is better to conserve water,” Solis said.

“Even if it’s hot, we should not make it a habit to take a bath three times a day. There are other ways to be refreshed so we need to conserve water,” she noted.

As of 6 a.m. yesterday, the water level of Angat Dam decreased by 0.27 meters after it reached 206.45 meters compared to its previous level of 206.72 meters. It was 8.12 meters below its normal high water level of 212 meters.

Angat Dam supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs and provides for the irrigation needs of 25,000 hectares of farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga.