In an official statement, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) declared the conclusion of the southwest monsoon or habagat season on Thursday. Recent meteorological analyses have revealed a “significant” weakening of the southwest monsoon, with the high-pressure system over East Asia gradually strengthening and leading to a “gradual” shift in weather patterns.
According to PAGASA, the Philippines is now entering a gradual transition to the northeast monsoon season, with an official declaration expected in the coming weeks.
However, the weather bureau issued a cautionary note due to the presence of El Niño, highlighting an increased likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions. This may result in dry spells and droughts in certain areas, with the phenomenon anticipated to manifest during the last quarter of 2023 and extend into the first quarter of 2024.
El Niño is poised to have adverse effects on various sectors, including water resources, agriculture, energy, health, and public safety. The World Meteorological Organization has already warned that El Niño is likely to break temperature records and trigger more extreme heat in many parts of the world.
In response to these potential challenges, the government has urged the public to conserve water in preparation for the impacts of El Niño. As the country navigates this transition in weather patterns, attentiveness and proactive measures are advised to mitigate the potential impacts on critical sectors.
