Ready your jackets and sweaters as the northeast monsoon season, locally called “amihan,” has arrived.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, Oct. 20 declared the onset of the northeast monsoon season in the country.
“In recent days, strong northeasterly winds have prevailed over Northern Luzon due to the strengthening of the high-pressure system over Siberia,” PAGASA Officer-in-Charge Nathaniel Servando said in a press release.
A gradual cooling of the surface air temperature over the northeastern part of Luzon and increasing mean sea level pressure have also been observed, he said.
“These meteorological patterns indicate the onset of the northeast monsoon (amihan) season in the country,” Servando pointed out.
The northeasterly wind flow is expected to become more dominant in the country, bringing cold and dry air in the coming days, and an episode of wind and cold temperature surges may occur in the coming months.
Servando also pointed out the potential negative impacts of El Niño, including below-normal rainfall and drier-than-usual conditions, in certain areas of the Philippines, including potential dry spells and droughts, which could be manifested during the amihan season.
He warned that the current El Niño may have a negative impact on various climate-sensitive sectors, such as water resources, agriculture, energy, health, public safety, and other key sectors in the country.