Expect longer nights – PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines — Longer nights are expected in the Philippines as yesterday marked the beginning of the autumnal and vernal equinoxes in the northern and southern hemispheres, respectively, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Days and nights will be approximately 12 hours long, with the sun rising at 5:45 a.m. and setting at 5:53 p.m.

“The time discrepancy is caused by atmospheric refraction enabling us to observe the sun minutes before it rises and sets,” the state weather bureau said.

The country is moving toward the winter solstice, which starts around the third week of December, PAGASA weather forecaster Daniel James Villamil noted.

“The northeast monsoon starts in early November and lasts until February. We can experience colder weather as we are already transitioning from southwest monsoon to northeast monsoon,” he added. There are now fewer areas affected by the southwest monsoon, Villamil said.

“The southwest monsoon does not reach Metro Manila. At present, it only affects Northern Luzon like the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley. It is located offshore and it does not reach many areas in the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, four to seven typhoons are expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) until yearend amid the threat of La Niña, PAGASA said.

The height of La Niña is forecast between September and November, said PAGASA Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section chief Ana Lisa Solis.

“We are still at La Niña alert, meaning since August, PAGASA has issued a general statement of La Niña-like conditions,” she noted.

Heavy to intense rains are expected until the end of the year as tropical cyclones will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, Solis said.

Tropical cyclones Ferdie, Gener, Helen and Igme entered PAR in a span of a week. Nine cyclones have entered PAR since January.

Tropical Depression Igme is now outside PAR, said PAGASA weather specialist Grace Castañeda.

The southwest monsoon will continue to bring rains in the Ilocos Region, Batanes and Babuyan Islands. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience rains brought by localized thunderstorms.

Authorities yesterday reported 25 deaths, 13 injured and eight missing due to the combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon and Ferdie, Gener, Helen and Igme. The number of affected people reached 1,449,293.