One more beach trip may still be possible before the rainy season sets in.

The country may be starting to feel more frequent afternoon rains and thunderstorms, but the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the warm, dry season has yet to officially end.

PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said the Philippines is currently in a transition period between the dry and wet seasons.

“Kasalukuyan nasa transition period po tayo o panahon sa pagitan ng tag-init o dry season at tag-ulan o wet season. Patungo na po tayo sa wet season, at isa sa mga senyales nito ay ang mas madalas na pag-iral ng thunderstorms, lalo na sa hapon hanggang gabi (We are currently in a transition period or the time between the dry season and the wet season. We are already heading toward the wet season, and one of the signs of this is the more frequent occurrence of thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon until evening),” Estareja said on Monday, May 18.

He added that the pattern is becoming more noticeable in Luzon, where residents are beginning to experience warm and humid mornings followed by sudden rainfall later in the day.

“Sa ating mga kababayan sa Luzon, mas mararamdaman na po ang balanseng init ng panahon sa umaga at ang pag-ulan pagsapit ng hapon (For our fellow Filipinos in Luzon, they will now feel the balance between warm weather in the morning and rainfall in the afternoon),” he said.

As more frequent thunderstorms are expected in the coming days, Estareja warned that even short-lived but intense rainfall events can still bring hazards such as flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.

PAGASA said the onset of the rainy season, associated with the southwest monsoon or “habagat,” typically occurs between the latter part of May and mid-June.