Transition from 'habagat' to 'amihan' seen in October

The country's prevailing winds are expected to gradually shift from southwesterly to easterly in the coming weeks, which would lead to the transition from southwest monsoon or "habagat" to northeast monsoon or "amihan."

By October, the prevalence of easterly winds will mark the transition period from habagat to amihan season, said Rusy Abastilas, senior weather specialist of the Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The northeast monsoon season will arrive by the last week of October or the first week of November, she said during the PAGASA's Climate Outlook Forum on Wednesday.

In 2020, PAGASA declared the onset of amihan on Nov. 6.

During the amihan season, the northeasterly winds become prevalent, bringing cold and dry air over most parts of the country. It usually reaches its peak between December and February.

Abastillas also said that the tail-end of a cold front will prevail during the northeast monsoon.

As of Wednesday, Sept. 22, PAGASA said the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) remains the dominant weather system in the country.

PAGASA said scattered rains howers and thunderstorms may affect Palawan, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy conditions but with possible isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

PAGASA advised the public to take precautions against possible flash floods or landslides especially during the occurrence of severe thunderstorms that are often associated with short-lived heavy rains.