The El Niño phenomenon over the Pacific Ocean that is affecting the country is forecast to end by June, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In a televised interview, weather specialist Benison Estareja said “we are already in a weak El Niño, and that we are expecting this El Niño may be over by June.”
“Our (daily) temperatures will still be normal or neutral again,” he added.
El Niño is characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
Despite the termination of El Niño in June, the public must still brace for its lingering effects like the reduced amount of rainfall and a hot weather condition, according to the state weather bureau.
“However, there will be a lag effect. This means there is a delay in the effect of El Niño. The lack of rain may last until next month,” Estareja said.
When asked about global boiling as warned by the United Nations in 2023, he said “it’s almost equivalent to global warming but what we are emphasizing is the effect of faster rising temperatures.”
“So that means it is possible that the impact would be more drastic in terms of the strength of the typhoons, in terms of the increase in our sea level, and then the different effects, such as more frequent heat waves, more frequent droughts or drought in the coming decades,” Estareja said.
PAGASA is currently monitoring a cloud cluster in the Pacific Ocean, taking into account the possible formation of a low pressure area,
“But probably, should there be a tropical cyclone, that would happen toward the third or fourth week of May,” Estareja said.