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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 29) — More rains are coming as the state weather bureau expects the onset of the rainy season in two weeks.
“It is likely that the onset will be either during the first week of June or second week of June,” Flaviana Hilario, deputy administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said in a Malacañang media briefing Wednesday.
PAGASA is also expecting five to eight tropical cyclones hitting the country in June to August.
It forecasts normal amount of rainfall in June, except in most of the Ilocos region and the provinces of Apayao, Cagayan, Tarlac, and Zambales where there will be less rainfall. In July, most parts of Southern Visayas and Mindanao will experience below normal rainfall conditions, Hilario said. By August, generally normal to above normal rainfall conditions will be felt in most areas across the country.
Asked if the start of the wet season was delayed because of the El Niño or dry spell, Hilario said it still falls within the normal period.
She added there is “high probability” that the El Niño will be experienced until August this year, as earlier announced. It might even last until yearend.
“There is still a chance that (El Niño) will continue until the end of this year, 2019. However, the uncertainity is quite high,” Hilario said.
The Department of Agriculture pegged production losses due to El Niño at ?7.96 billion as of April 30. It has affected over 240,000 farmers from almost all regions across the country. Several areas were placed under state of calamity.
