PAGASA: Two Mindanao provinces may receive 'above-normal' rainfall in August

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that while most of the country will experience “near-normal” rainfall in August, Misamis Oriental and Agusan del Norte are expected to receive “above-normal” precipitation.
PAGASA explained that above-normal rainfall refers to precipitation levels exceeding 120 percent of the average for the month.
Rains that may affect the country in August could come from various weather systems, including the southwest monsoon (habagat), easterlies, ridge of high pressure, localized thunderstorms, the intertropical convergence zone, low pressure areas, and potentially two to three tropical cyclones.
PAGASA has repeatedly warned that the developing La Niña phenomenon in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific could amplify the effects of these weather systems on the country.
It said that El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-neutral conditions—where neither La Niña nor El Niño is present—are currently observed in the tropical Pacific and may continue through the July-August-September 2024 season.
However, forecasts suggest a 70 percent chance of La Niña developing during the August-September-October 2024 period, prompting the recent upgrade of the PAGASA ENSO alert system from La Niña Watch to a La Niña Alert.
La Niña usually heightens the likelihood of above-normal rainfall, which can lead to floods and landslides in vulnerable areas.