Temperature in Metro Manila on Monday dropped to 19.4 degrees Celsius due to the strong northeast monsoon that continues to affect most parts of Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
Pagasa weather observer Munir Baldomero said that Monday’s temperature in Metro Manila hit 19.4 degrees Celsius at 6:20 a.m., the lowest temperature for amihan season which surpassed the temperature last Dec. 29 recorded at 19.6 degrees Celsius.
He said Metro Manila’s temperature readings are being recorded daily in the vicinity of the Pagasa Science Garden in Diliman, Quezon City between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.
Baldomero said the lowest temperature recorded in Metro Manila last Feb. 2, 2015 was at 18.0 degrees Celsius.
Pagasa said the all-time lowest temperature recorded in Metro Manila was 14.9 degrees Celsius on March 1,1963.
Meanwhile, Baguio City, the country’s summer capital, continued to experience chilly temperature as Monday temperature recorded at 11.9 degrees Celsius.
The lowest temperature recorded this year in Baguio was last Jan. 26 at 10.8 degrees Celsius.
According to the Pagasa’s climatological record, Baguio’s coldest temperature ever recorded was at 6.3 degrees on Jan. 18, 1961.
The northeast monsoon or seasonal winds from the northeast is the cold air from China that starts blowing into the country every mid-October. It usually peaks from early January to mid-February.
Pagasa weather forecaster Gener Quitlong said that so far the effect of northeast monsoon concentrates in northern Luzon but it will also bring cold mornings in some parts of Luzon including Metro Manila. Northeast monsoon usually peaks from early January to mid-February.
He explained that strong winds of the northeast monsoon contributed to the dip in temperature.
However, the northeast monsoon is expected to end in February due to El Niño phenomenon, he said.
He said the country will continue to experience cooler days as the northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan,” a mass of cold air, continues to blow into the country from Siberia.
