FEEL the heat?

State weather forecasters said that some some eight provinces in Luzon are now experiencing meteorological drought.

PAGASA characterized drought as having below normal rainfall conditions for five consecutive months or way below normal rainfall for three consecutive months.

It is recorded so far in Apayao, Bataan, Cagayan, Cavite, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Palawan, and Zambales.
 

The dry spell and dry conditions are also being felt in more provinces throughout the country.

PAGASA said that 19 areas, including Metro Manila, are under a dry spell while 23 others are currently experiencing dry conditions.

Dry spell and dry conditions are said to be below to way below normal rainfalls, but is only for a shorter period compared to a drought.

Less rainfall is a direct effect of the strong El Niño currently present in the tropical Pacific Ocean.

According to the PAGASA advisory, the phenomenon is expected to persist until March, April, and May this year.
 

Because El Niño enhances prevailing weather conditions, Ana Solis, chief of PAGASA’s Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section, reminds parents and schools to prepare their children and schools for warmer school days once the northeast monsoon (Amihan) season ends.

“It’s better to have preparatory measures kung makakaranas ng mainit o maalinsangan na temperature. Ang human discomfort ay posibleng tumaas so i-consider ito as one of the strategic measures pagdating ng mga warm and dry season months sa ating mga paaralan,” she said.