BECAUSE of a strong El Niño phenomenon, the weather bureau has warned of a hotter and drier summer in many parts of Luzon and of a worsening power crisis in Mindanao.
At a news conference, Pagasa’s chief of climate monitoring and prediction Anthony Lucero said a warmer weather is expected to impact in March during the shift of the northeast monsoon (hanging habagat) to southwest monsoon (hanging amihan) than in 2015 .
Many provinces in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao are expected to experience dry condition and a prolonged drought from January until June, Lucero said.
In Metro Manila alone, maximum temperatures may rise from 35 degrees Celsius to 38.6 degrees Celsius in April and May, while in Tuguegarao City’s temperatures could go up to as high as from 39.66 degrees Celsius to 41.5 degrees Celsius.
“Most areas in Luzon are forecast to have above-normal temperature,” Lucero said.
According to Lucero, by end of January, 20 percent of the country will experience drought to affect 16 provinces, such as Palawan, Albay, Aklan, Antique, South Cotabato and North Cotabato, while six provinces will be under dry condition and 15 provinces under dry spell.
In February, Metro Manila will be one of the places to feel dry condition, while 28 provinces and 29 others are forecast to experience dry spell and drought, respectively.
The National Capital Region is also among the 44 places to experience continued dry spell with only Batanes and Quirino under dry spell and 34 provinces under drought.
At least 12 provinces, such as Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Batanes, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Rizal and Quezon, will have dry spell in April, and 68 provinces, including Metro Manila will feel the scorching heat of drought.
In May, the metro, along with Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Nueva Ecija and Bataan, is also one of the 34 areas to feel the summer’s drought.
“Forty-two percent of the country will experience drought,” Lucero said.
In June, 22 percent of the country, such as in Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Batangas and Cavite, will still suffer from drought.
The NCR is spared, according to Pagasa.
A dry condition is characterized by two consecutive months of below-normal reduction of rainfall condition of 21 percent to 60 percent, while a dry spell must meet the requirement of having three consecutive months of below-normal reduction of 21 percent to 60 percent.
Drought means a below-normal rainfall reduction of over 60 percent for three consecutive months.
Dr. Flaviana Hilario, Pagasa’s acting deputy administrator for research and development and project manager, said the “full” impact of the El Niño phenomenon will be felt after June.
“While Luzon is likely to have warmer weather, Mindanao’s power supply is expected to be [badly] affected by the El Niño,” she told reporters.
“The source of power there is water.”
Dr. Vicente Malano, Pagasa administrator, urged water managers in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao to adopt water conservation measures.
A strong El Niño is affecting the country, he noted.