(MENAFN- Gulf Times) State weather forecasters continue to monitor variables, including the occurrence of a dry spell, before they declare the onset of the El Nino phenomenon that may affect majority of Luzon and the Visayas.
The El Nino phenomenon, which usually accounts for hotter days, is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
In an interview over ABS-CBN's morning show Umagang Kay Ganda, weather forecaster Raymong Ordinario said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) was looking at the various conditions that might be set before the phenomenon could be declared. 'We are monitoring it. It should meet all conditions before we can declare the El Nino, Ordinario said.Pagasa's climate outlook earlier stated that there was a probable occurrence of the El Nino phenomenon during the first quarter of 2019, stating that it might affect 47 provinces.
Ordinario said there would first be a drought that would persist for three consecutive months, where the rainfall was way below normal rainfall (60% reduction from average) or five consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition (21% to 60% reduction from average). According to Pagasa, a 'dry spell is defined as three consecutive months of below normal rainfall (21% to 60% reduction from average) or two months of consecutive way below normal rainfall (more than 60% reduction from average).
State weather forecasters said the majority of the villages in the town of M'lang in North Cotabato province were experiencing the mild effect of drought as severe temperatures since mid-December had dried up their irrigation canals.
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