Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday announced the rainy season officially started in the Philippines.
“Idineklara natin ngayong araw yung pagsisimula ng tag-ulan matapos nga yung mga pag-ulang naitala noong mga nakalipas na limang araw,” said PAGASA weather forecaster Rob Gille in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.
According to Gille, the rains in the past five days were brought by the southwest monsoon and a low-pressure area that later on became Tropical Depression Butchoy.
He added the public should prepare for frequent scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the western areas of Luzon and the Visayas.
He said dry period or “monsoon breaks” should also be expected.
“Hindi naman sa entire rainy season ay may mga pag-ulan na lagi tayong inaasahan. May mga period na tinatawag tayong monsoon breaks associated with the rainy season,” Gille said.
The rainy season in the Philippines typically begins in June, with typhoons a possibility from August through to October.
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Tropical Depression Butchoy update
Tropical Depression Butchoy is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm within 24 hours. It is also expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tonight or tomorrow morning and is forecast to move generally northwestward towards southern China.
At 10:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression “BUTCHOY” was estimated based on all available data at 140 km West Northwest of Iba, Zambales, or 165 km West of Dagupan City, Pangasinan.
All tropical cyclone wind signals have been lifted. However, occasional gusts associated with the Southwest Monsoon may still be experienced over most of Northern and Central Luzon and the western section of Southern Luzon and the Visayas.
Moderate to heavy rains are expected over Zambales, Bataan, Pangasinan, the northern portion of Palawan, including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, and Occidental Mindoro. Light to moderate with at times heavy monsoon rains over Metro Manila, Western Visayas, and the rest of Luzon.
In the next 24 hours, moderate to very rough seas (1.5 to 4.5 m) will be experienced over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon especially over the seaboards of the Ilocos Region, Zambales and Bataan due to BUTCHOY and the Southwest Monsoon. Sea travel is risky, especially for those using small seacrafts.