ILOILO CITY- The state weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, has declared the onset of the El Niño phenomenon and its impact on the Philippines.
According to the agency, it has been upgraded from the El Niño Alert warning status to an El Niño Advisory.
Department of Science and Technology Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. explained that the current El Niño is weak and shows no signs of worsening in the coming months.
The El Niño phenomenon is characterized by an abnormal warming of the sea surface temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, as well as below-normal rainfall.
It is known that due to El Niño, dry spells have already been experienced in Apayao, Cagayan, and Kalinga based on the three-month actual rainfall in the provinces.
A dry spell refers to three consecutive months of rainfall conditions with a deviation of 21% to 60% below the average rainfall.
Dry conditions have also been experienced in Isabela and Tarlac.
A dry condition refers to two consecutive months of rainfall with a deviation of 21% to 60% below the average rainfall.
