While the cold breeze due to the northeast monsoon or "amihan" may linger over the next couple of days, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the country may already begin to transition to hotter weather by the second half of March.
"Patuloy na mino-monitor ng PAGASA itong amihan natin although nandito na tayo sa last portion, nasa huling bugso na ng amihan. At probably second half of March ay possible na na in transition na tayo. Medyo variable ‘yung wind so ibig sabihin until middle or first half of March ay meron pa tayong nakikitang amihan. (PAGASA continues to monitor the amihan although we are already in the last portion, it is already the final surge. And probably by second half of March, we will already be in transition. The wind is a bit variable so it means that until the middle or first half of March we can still feel the amihan)," PAGASA’s Climatology and Prediction Section chief Ana Liza Solis said during its climate outlook forum on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
"Just wait for the PAGASA update for the release of the termination of the northeast monsoon," she added.
PAGASA weather specialist Ana Clauren said the easterlies, or the warm and humid winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, will be the prevailing weather system that will affect most parts of the country in the next three days.
The amihan may weaken and will only prevail over some parts of Northern Luzon, while the rest of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao will have relatively warm weather in the next three days, from Wednesday to Saturday, Feb. 24-27, due to the easterlies, she added.
Clauren said tropical cyclone formation is also not expected within the Philippine area of responsibility during the outlook period.
Last Feb. 21, La Trinidad, Benguet recorded the country's coldest day so far during the current amihan season with mercury dipping to 7.9 degrees Celsius.
Likewise, Baguio City, the country's summer capital, also registered its coldest air temperature at 9.0 degrees Celsius on the same day.
Even Metro Manila has been enjoying chilly mornings for the past few days, recording a low of 19.3 degrees Celsius air temperature also last Feb. 21.