Philippines: Drought due to El Niño to hit more provinces
By Roel Pareño and Jose Rodel Clapano
More provinces are expected to experience drought in the next two months due to El Niño, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned the public yesterday.
Ana Liza Solis, chief of the PAGASA climate monitoring and prediction section, said the dry spell would affect Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Ilocos Sur as well as La Union this month.
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The country is experiencing less rainfall and warmer temperatures due to a “weak” El Niño, which is expected to last until end of May or June.
The state weather bureau has yet to officially announce the start of the dry season. The weather agency declares the dry season once the easterlies – or warm air from the Pacific – become the dominant wind system in the country.
PAGASA weather forecasters earlier said a longer dry season is expected this year due to El Niño.
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