Residents in Baguio City and Metro Manila woke up on Sunday, Feb. 21, to the coldest morning, so far, for the current amihan season.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Chris Perez said the temperature in Baguio City plunged to 9.0 degrees Celsius around 5:00 a.m., the lowest so far since the current amihan season started in October 2020.
It is lower than the previous recorded lowest temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius on Jan. 31, 2021.
The chilly weather extended across other parts of Luzon on Sunday as PAGASA also registered a cold temperature in Metro Manila at 19.3 degrees Celsius.
The 19.3 degrees Celsius temperature was particularly registered at the PAGASA Science Garden monitoring station in Quezon City around 6 a.m, said weather observer III Mel Duque.
It is also lower than the previous lowest temperature of 19.9 degrees Celsius recorded in the same station last Jan. 31.
Moreover, Perez said Malaybalay, Bukidnon (16.0 degrees Celsius) and Tanay, Rizal (16.5 degrees Celsius) registered relatively low temperatures on Sunday.
PAGASA attributed the cold weather in Luzon to the prevailing northeast monsoon.
The lowest temperature ever recorded in Baguio City was 6.3 degrees Celsius on January 18, 1961, while the coldest day in Metro Manila was registered twice on February 4, 1987 and December 30, 1988 at 15.1 degrees Celsius.