PAGASA ISSUES EL NIÑO ALERT  

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday issued an El Niño alert.

The state weather bureau said there’s a high probability that this phenomenon would develop from June to August and may likely persist until early 2027.

PAGASA said there was a 79 percent chance of El Niño during the specified period, or a situation wherein a drier-than-usual conditions, including dry spells and droughts in parts of the country, might happen.

PAGASA administrator Dr. Nathaniel Servando explained that El Niño is characterized by “cooler-than-average sea surface temperature over the Philippine Sea and warmer-than-average sea surface temperature in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific.”

“During an El Niño event, there is an increased possibility of drier-than-usual conditions, which can lead to negative impacts such as drought and dry spells in some parts of the country,” he said. 

However, PAGASA said above-normal rainfall might still be experienced over the country’s western section during the southwest monsoon or habagat season.

Servando said the bureau was closely monitoring the developments so it could provide the necessary advisories to the public.