By Catherine J. Teves
MANILA, Aug. 1 (PNA) — Government expects slightly warmer than normal temperature in most areas of the country during the August 2015-January 2016 period.
Such condition is typical manifestation of drought-driving El Nino phenomenon’s occurrence, noted State weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
“El Nino is expected to last until next year,” said PAGASA Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section Officer-in-charge Anthony Lucero.
PAGASA forecast maximum temperature across lowlands to range from 35.1°C to 37.8°C in Luzon, 34.5°C to 38.0°C in the Visayas and 36.1°C to 37.5°C in Mindanao.
Maximum temperature in mountainous areas can range between 26.6°C to 27.4°C in Luzon and 33.2°C to 34.2°C in Mindanao, PAGASA said.
The agency provided no data for mountainous areas in the Visayas but forecast Metro Manila to experience maximum temperature of 33.7°C to 35.9°C.
Lucero noted latest model outputs still indicate that the “moderate” El Nino at present would likely intensify into “strong” in forthcoming months, becoming comparable to what this was in 1997 and 1998.
Experts already identified the 1997-1998 El Nino as the strongest of its kind to affect the country during the 20th century.
Despite El Nino’s onslaught, PAGASA expects between seven and 11 tropical cyclones to either develop or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility from August this year to January 2016.
PAGASA forecast below-normal rainfall in most areas of the country, however. (PNA)