PAGASA: Habagat may end in 2 weeks as Amihan transition looms - GMA Network

The Southwest Monsoon or Habagat may end within the next two weeks, state weather bureau PAGASA said Thursday.

“Sa kasalukuyan po ay mahina na yung Habagat, kaya naman, kahit na lalapit itong Bagyong Queenie, ay wala tayong inaasahan na malalakas na pag-uulan, and sa atin pong analysis, ay posible na sa susunod na dalawang linggo ay mag-terminate na itong hanging Habagat,” PAGASA weather specialist John Manalo said during the 5 p.m. weather update.

(At present, the Southwest Monsoon has weakened, so even if Tropical Storm Queenie comes close, we are not expecting heavy rains. Based on our analysis, the Habagat may end within the next two weeks.)

The end of the Habagat, which began on May 30, will be followed by a transition period toward the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan.

“Yung hangin naman po na makaka-apekto ho sa atin ay manggagaling dito sa northeastern part ng ating bansa. Mas malamig po ito [sa Habagat], pero dahil sa El Niño, hindi po ito yung lamig na mararanasan natin sa darating na Pasko,” Manalo said.

(The winds that will affect the country will come from the northeastern part of the Philippines. They are colder than the Habagat, but because of El Niño, they will not bring the kind of cold weather that we typically experience around Christmas.)

PAGASA said the El Niño phenomenon is expected to intensify this year, bringing below-normal rainfall and higher temperatures.

The weather bureau has urged the public to prepare for the dry conditions and conserve water. — VBL, GMA News