MANILA, Philippines — PAGASA monitors a 60-percent probability of developing El Niño phenomenon from October to December this year.
El Niño is a climate pattern that refers to the cycle of warm and cold temperatures and is accompanied by high air pressure in the western Pacific and low air pressure in the eastern Pacific.
It brings lower than normal rainfall which would mainly affect the agricultural sector.
But the agency observed that the occurrence of El Niño or La Niña phenomenon has become more frequent due to the effects of global warming.
“Usually, El Niño or La Niña’s cycle happens around 2 to 7 years. But lately El Niño or La Niña seems to occur every year,” said PAGASA climate monitoring and prediction section chief Ana Solis.
PAGASA also clarified that despite the occurrence of El Niño, floods and heavy rains may still be experienced like what happened in 2009 when tropical cyclone Ondoy inundated most of Luzon.
“We are not saying that it will happen, but historically, we have experienced those,” said Solis.
PAGASA predicts that 10 to 13 tropical cyclones might enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility until November this year. — Rey Pelayo | UNTV News & Rescue
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