The Manila Times

El Niño phenomenon now present in PH

MANILA, Philippines — The state-run weather agency revealed on Tuesday that the effect of the El Niño phenomenon would start to be felt in the country after it developed in the tropical Pacific. Nathaniel Servando, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) chief, cited data that the observed relative sea surface temperature anomaly (rSSTA) has reached the +0.5°C threshold in May 2026. “Most climate models suggest there is over an 80 percent probability that this will develop into a full-blown El Niño event, which is likely to persist until early 2027,” Servando said. Characterized by warmer-than-average SSTs in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific and generally cooler-than-average sea surface temperature over the Philippine Sea, Pagasa said El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Typically increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions across much of the country, the phenomenon raises the risk of dry spells and drought, particularly in vulnerable areas, according to the national weather bureau. It explained that above-normal rainfall conditions may still occur, particularly over the western sections of the Philippines during the southwest monsoon season locally known as ‘habagat,’ especially when enhanced by tropical cyclone activity In The Manila Times interview earlier this month, Servando said that it was projected to evolve as a strong El Niño during the last quarter of 2026. The Pagasa administrator had also said that more areas would experience dry spell and drought or specifically 49 provinces would be affected by October. He said Pagasa would closely monitor the ongoing El Niño condition and its associated impacts on the country’s climate.

Go to News Site

Google Play

App Store