ILOILO – Although it is already raining in some parts of the province, the rainy season has not set in yet, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
The recent rains were just manifestations that the rainy season would be coming, said Engineer Ronaldo Naragdao, chief of Pagasa’s Iloilo station.
“Once ma-meet na ang criteria, ma-declare ang Pagasa sang (onset of the) rainy reason,” said Naragdao.
The criteria are: 1) five days of rain, 2) the volume rainfall should be at least 25 millimeters (mm).
At the moment, said Naragdao, “Bitin pa ang ulan. Indi pa sufficient ang tubig nga makapatubo sang humay.”
The country is still experiencing a mild El Niño that may last until August, he stressed.
At the Pagasa central office in Metro Manila, however, senior weather specialist Rusy Abastillas said there would be no delay in the onset of rainy season this year.
The onset of the rainy season was delayed only twice during the past 14 El Niño years, Abastillas said.
The normal onset of rainy season is between the second half of May and first half of June. Rainy season last year officially began on June 8.
By June, said Abastillas, the amount of rainfall will be generally near normal except for patches of below average rainfall over Apayao, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Tarlac and Zambales.
By July, generally near normal to above normal rainfall is expected over most parts of Luzon and Visayas, while rainfall will be generally below normal over most of Mindanao including southern Visayas./PN
