PAGASA officially declares the start of the rainy season

Today, June 12, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA officially declared the start of the rainy season in the country.

In an interview with Dobol B on GMA News TV, PAGASA weather forecaster Rob Gille noted that the five consecutive days have brought “significant amount” of rain to the western parts of Luzon and the Visayas. “Idineklara natin ngayong araw yung pagsisimula ng tag-ulan matapos nga yung mga pag-ulang naitala noong mga nakalipas na limang araw,” he said.

According to Gille, the said rains in the past days were caused by the southwest monsoon and a low pressure area that later on became Tropical Depression Butchoy. He, then, explained that the public should expect frequent scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms especially in the western portions of Luzon and the Visayas.

He said dry period or “monsoon breaks” should also be expected.

“Hindi naman sa entire rainy season ay may mga pag-ulan na lagi tayong inaasahan. May mga period na tinatawag tayong monsoon breaks associated with the rainy season,” Gille added.

The said declaration was made amid the battle to coronavirus disease pandemic. As of this writing, it has already affected more than 24,000 confirmed cases.

So far, the Philippines has had two tropical cyclones in 2020, Typhoon Ambo and Tropical Depression Butchoy.

The country gets an average of 20 tropical cyclones per year.