Watch Out for Rainy Season in the Philippines

State meteorological bureau PAGASA declared Friday the start of the rainy season in the Philippines.

In an announcement, PAGASA said that the recent appearance of scattered thunderstorms, the passage of cyclone Betty (Mawar), and the southwest monsoon (habagat) triggered extensive rainfall to the western sections of Luzon and Visayas, implying the start of the rainy season in the country, particularly within areas with Type I climate.

Areas with Type I climate have a distinctively dry and wet season: wet from June to November and dry for the rest of the year.

PAGASA highlighted that gaps in rainfall events also known as rainy breaks may happen and may extend for many days.

Improved Habagat

PAGASA also warned the transition to El Niño is seen in the following couple of months. The phenomenon may likely remain till the first quarter of 2024.

El Niño enhances the likelihood of below-normal rainfall circumstances, which may result in periods of dryness and droughts in some areas of the country.

However, the southwest monsoon may also be strengthened, which might lead to above-normal rainfall circumstances in the western section of the country.

At this point, the Philippines had two tropical cyclones in 2023: Amang in April and Betty in May.

An average of 20 cyclones enter or form inside the Philippine area of responsibility per year, devastating houses and crops and destroying hundreds to thousands