By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The first day of February turned extra cold and breezy for Baguio City and Metro Manila residents as air temperatures significantly dropped to 10.2 degrees Celsius and 18.5 degrees Celsius, respectively – making it the coldest day so far since the northeast monsoon or "amihan" season started last October.
Baguio City (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the lowest temperature reading in Baguio City was recorded around 7 a.m. on Saturday, February 1. It surpassed the 11.2 degrees Celsius minimum temperature in the country's summer capital last Friday.
On the other hand, PAGASA weather observer Mel Duque said the lowest temperature reading in Metro Manila was observed at around 6 a.m. at its Science Garden monitoring station in Quezon City. It surpassed the minimum recorded temperature of 19.9 degrees Celsius last Jan. 22.
The lowest temperature ever recorded in Baguio City, however, was 6.3 degrees Celsius on January 18, 1961. Meanwhile, the coldest day in history in Metro Manila was registered twice on February 4, 1987 and December 30, 1988 at 15.1 degrees Celsius.
PAGASA attributed the cold weather on Saturday to the surge of “amihan” prevailing around the country. Northeast monsoon season usually prevails from late October to early March, and reaches its peak during February.
Weather specialist Meno Mendoza said the amihan will continue to bring cold breeze over most of the country in the next few days.
The “amihan” may bring cloudy skies with light rains over Aurora, Quezon, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Cagayan, Batanes, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light amihan rains.
Based on the PAGASA's extended weather outlook, minimum temperature range in Metro Manila from February 2 to February 5 is between 20 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, minimum temperature in Baguio City is forecast at 11 to 12 degrees Celsius during the same period.
Mendoza said PAGASA does not see the formation of a low pressure area or tropical cyclone inside the country's area of responsibility in the next two days.