PAGASA: Summer isn't over

MANILA, Philippines  - Despite the scattered rain showers and slightly cooler temperature these past few days,  the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Friday that the rainy season is yet to come.

Weather forecaster Fernando Cada said the monitoring station's criterion of five consecutive days of monsoon rains signaling the wet season has yet to be met.

"The country's 'Habagat' or southwest monsoon is not yet as strong, that is why we have not yet announced the onset of the rainy season," Cada said in a radio interview.

Rainfall must also reach 25 millimeters or more for the weather bureau to mark the start of the rainy period.

Cada also said, however, that rains in Western Luzon nearly met the criteria  with  increasing frequency of rain the past days.

"Our western section almost hit the criteria but (rains) are not as successive as Habagat is not yet fully enhanced," Cada explained.

The Department of Science and Technology's Project NOAH also shows that accumulated rainfall throughout the country has not yet breached over 30 millimeters.

Cloud formation and scattered rains, meanwhile, continued to envelop the country, prompting  Cada  to say that he expects the rainy season to be declared in the next few days.

He advised people to always bring their  umbrella  owing to rain showers these days.

PAGASA added that an intertropical convergence zone will bring clouds over Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, areas of Mindoro, Western Visayas and Mindanao.

It might also bring light to moderate rains in the said regions, while the rest of the country is expected to experience isolated rain showers, the bureau said.