PAGASA lifts La Niña alert

Metro Manila, Philippines - The weather bureau lifted on Friday, April 4, the alert for La Niña, a climate pattern associated with above-normal rainfall.

The announcement came after the declaration of the onset of summer more than a week ago.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said it sees the weather pattern recurring late in the year, thus the prevailing warm temperature.

“There’s still possibility or equal chances na posibleng towards ENSO-neutral o posible na recurring na La Niña by October to December,” said Ana Liza Solis, PAGASA climate monitoring and prediction section chief. ENSO stands for El Niño-Southern Oscillation.

“Napakalayo pa niyan, therefore napakataas pa rin ng uncertainty and we need to keep on monitoring for monthly updates,” Solis added.

[Translation: There’s still a possibility or equal chances of a possible ENSO-neutral or recurring La Niña by October to December. But it’s still far away, therefore it’s a high uncertainty. We need to keep on monitoring for monthly updates.]

State meteorologists said the highest maximum daytime temperature could reach nearly 40 degrees Celsius in northern Luzon in April.

Solis said sweltering heat would be experienced until mid-May before the onset of rains.

She said western Luzon, Mimaropa, and Panay island may have below-normal to near-normal rainfall in April.

“With the ongoing warm and dry season, the public and all concerned government agencies are advised to continue their ongoing precautionary measures to minimize heat stress and prevent any accompanying health risks associated with this climate condition,” PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando said in a statement.

PAGASA said at most one tropical cyclone might form in April, and at most two in May.