MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews) – Expect more rainfall in the months ahead.
La Niña, or the cooling phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, may occur in the last quarter of 2021 and persist until early next year, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
In an advisory issued on Monday, Pagasa said there was a 70 to 80 percent of a La Niña in the coming months based on latest forecasts by most climate models and expert judgments.
“Rainfall forecasts also suggest a higher probability of above-normal rainfall conditions in many areas of the country in the next several months. This can be attributed to the expected stronger easterlies, enhanced Northeast monsoon and tropical cyclone occurrences,” the state weather agency added.
“La Niña is characterized by unusually cool ocean surface temperatures in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific,” it explained.
It added the eastern sections of the country which normally receive more rainfall during the last quarter of the year could further increase the likelihood of more adverse impacts such as floods and landslides over highly vulnerable areas. (MindaNews)
