The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) confirmed on Monday, Jan. 6 that La Niña conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which signals potential shifts in weather patterns that may affect the country through the first quarter of 2025.
“Periods of cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that started in September 2024 continue to persist and further strengthened reaching the La Niña conditions threshold in December 2024, as shown by the recent oceanic and atmospheric indicators,” PAGASA said in its first La Niña advisory.
It explained that these conditions are defined by a one-month sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) of -0.5 degrees Celsius (°C) or less, with a forecast expectation that the three-month SSTA (Oceanic Niño Index) will also fall below -0.5°C, covering the December-January-February (DJF) and January-February-March (JFM) periods.
According to PAGASA, climate models suggest that the La Niña phenomenon is likely to continue through at least the January-March 2025 season and potentially influence rainfall patterns and tropical cyclone activity.
During this period, the Philippines can expect higher chances of above-normal rainfall, which may lead to an increased risk of floods, flash floods, and rain-induced landslides across some regions.
There is also a possible rise in tropical cyclone activity within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) during this time.
Given the potential hazards, PAGASA urged the public and concerned government agencies to closely monitor its regular weather updates and advisories.