Metro Manila’s air temperature dropped to 20.3 degrees Celsius (°C) on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, which is so far the coldest day on record in the region this 2023.
Based on the data of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the 20.3°C air temperature was recorded at the Science Garden monitoring station in Quezon City around 5:55 a.m.
This is lower than the 20.6°C air temperature recorded on Feb. 5
PAGASA attributed the cold weather to the prevailing northeast monsoon, or “amihan.”
Based on PAGASA’s data, the top 10 stations that recorded the lowest air temperature throughout Tuesday were:
Baguio City (13.5℃)
Tanay, Rizal (18.6℃)
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan (19.2℃)
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (19.6℃)
Malaybalay, Bukidnon (19.8°C)
Casiguran, Aurora (20.2°C)
Muñoz, Nueva Ecija (20.2°C)
Science Garden, Quezon City (20.3°C)
Subic, Zambales (20.9°C)
Abucay, Bataan (21.1°C)
PAGASA expects cold surges due to the northeast monsoon until the end of the month.
According to the weather bureau, surface air temperatures are expected to be “near to slightly cooler than average” in most parts of the country, except for some areas that may experience slightly warmer than average temperatures, this February.
The forecast temperature ranges are as follows: 9.1°C to 28.1°C in the mountainous areas of Luzon, 12.1°C to 36.3°C over the rest of Luzon, 18.8°C to 35.8°C in Visayas, 12.6°C to 33.8°C in the mountainous areas of Mindanao,18.2°C to 37.1°C over rest of Mindanao, and 18.7°C to 35.0°C for Metro Manila.
PAGASA said that the gradual weakening of the northeast monsoon is expected in March, signaling the onset of dry and warm season in the country because the air temperature will gradually increase.