Pagasa warns of La Niña in coming months

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned yesterday the public that the La Niña phenomenon could worsen in the coming months and trigger flooding especially in the Bicol region.

Pagasa said above normal rainfall is expected over most parts of the Bicol region this month which might trigger flood, flashfloods and landslides in the area. “Based on current atmospheric and oceanic conditions, recent trends and model forecasts, early stages of La Niña is likely to continue this month. It is expected to strengthen to a La Niña level through the coming months and likely to persist up to the early part of 2011, Pagasa said in its latest advisory.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau said most areas of the country would likely experience near normal rainfall condition in August. However, it said western Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan would have below normal rainfall this month.

Esteban Godilano, satellite mapping expert of the Climate Change Congress of the Philippines (CCCP), had said La Niña would severely affect at least 69 provinces until March 2011, including Abra, Aklan, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales and Zamboanga. He said Antipolo City, Aurora, Bacolod City, Batangas, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Cavite, Cebu, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Laguna, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Naga City, Negros Occidental, Palawan, Quirino, Sorsogon, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Rizal should prepare for big floods and landslides from October to November.