The scorching heat that has affected many areas across the country may gradually ease as the rainy season in the country approaches, an official of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Thursday, May 16.

In a televised interview, PAGASA-Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section (CLIMPS) Officer-in-Charge Ana Liza Solis said the occurrence of localized rain showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening are precursory signs of the approaching rainy season.

She added that localized thunderstorms may reduce high temperatures and alleviate drought caused by El Niño.

“But for now, andito pa rin tayo sa warm and dry season (we are still in the warm and dry season),” Solis said. 

“Sa mga susunod na araw ay possible na na bababa yung ating heat index sa Metro Manila (In the next few days, it is possible that our heat index will decrease in Metro Manila),” she added.

However, she noted that Ilocos Region, as well as some parts of Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Bicol, Mimaropa (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas, will continue to have high heat indices in the coming days, though they will gradually decrease.

“Kahit walang El Niño or kahit tapos na itong warm and dry season months, makakaranas pa rin tayo ng matataas na heat index pero sa iilang lugar na lamang (Even if there is no El Niño or even if the warm and dry season is over, we will still experience high heat indices but only in a few places),” Solis said.

Onset of rainy season

Solis also said the rainy season could begin "between June 1 and 15, or towards the end of May.”

However, due to the El Niño, there is a "slim" or 15 percent chance of it being delayed, probably June 16 or later, she added.

“Ang tinitignan din natin dahil may papatapos na El Niño at pre-developing La Niña ang epekto nito ay posibleng maantala ng konti ang ulan (What we are also looking at is that because there is an ending El Niño and a pre-developing La Niña, the effect of this is that the rain may be delayed a little),” Solis said.

“Pero kung titignan natin ang precursory sign ng ating tag-ulan ay posibleng within the normal range. Pwedeng up to second half of May or first half of June (But if we look at the precursor sign of our rainy season, it may be within the normal range. Can be up to the second half of May or first half of June),” she added.

In 2023, the rainy season began on June 2.