Pull out those jackets and sweaters from the closet because colder days are coming—the southwest monsoon or “habagat” season is over and the colder northeast monsoon or “amihan” is blowing “in the coming days,” the state weather bureau said Wednesday.
“Recent analyses showed that a significant weakening of the Southwest Monsoon has been observed over the last few days. Moreover, the strengthening of the high-pressure area over the Asian continent has led to the gradual changing of the season,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a press statement.
“With these developments, the Southwest Monsoon season or known locally as ‘habagat’ is now officially over,” it added.
PAGASA also warned that with the ongoing La Niña phenomenon, there is an “increased likelihood” of above-normal rainfall conditions, which could lead to heavy rainfall, floods, flash floods, and landslides.
“All concerned government agencies and the public are advised to take precautionary measures to mitigate the potential impacts of these events,” the agency said.
PAGASA chief Vicente Malano said the country is in the process of transition and could expect the gradual start of the amihan season, featuring the cold winds blowing in from Siberia, in the following days.
He urged all concerned government agencies and the public to take precautionary measures to mitigate the potential impacts of these events.
The winter monsoon weather features a generally less strong, eastern, or northeast breeze that is cooler and drier compared to the summer monsoon or habagat weather, with prolonged periods of successive cloudless days, the weather bureau said.