MORE provinces will start experiencing drought this month as the El Niño phenomenon is expected to peak, with over 35% to 50% of the country expected to be under below-normal rainfall conditions.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said more provinces should start coping up with the drought.

This would translate to reduced rainfall and intensified dry spells and drought in several parts of the country within the first quarter of the year.

"By the end of February, twenty-four (24) provinces in Luzon and one (1) province in Visayas are potential for meteorological drought conditions; seventeen (17) provinces for dry spell, while, ten (10) provinces will be potential for dry conditions," PAGASA's El Niño Advisory said.

Likewise, the state weather bureau predicts a worse situation compared to its assessment of the affected provinces in January 2024, when a total of 14 provinces experienced drought, 10 had dry spells, and 17 had dry conditions.

According to data from PAGASA, the following areas would be affected by the end of the month:

Drought - this means three consecutive months of way below-normal rainfall condition; greater than 80% reduction from average rainfall: 

• Luzon: Abra, Apayao, Aurora, Bataan, Benguet, Cagayan, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Metro Manila, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Pangasinan, Quirino, Rizal, Zambales
• Visayas: Negros Occidental

Dry Spell - three consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition; 21-60% reduction from average rainfall:

• Luzon: Batangas, Laguna, Masbate, Oriental Mindoro
• Visayas: Antique, Biliran, Capiz, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Oriental, Samar
• Mindanao: Lanao del Norte, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi

Dry Conditions - meaning two consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition (21-60% reduction from average rainfall:

• Luzon: Bulacan
• Visayas: Bohol, Siquijor, Southern Leyte
• Mindanao: Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay