QUEZON CITY (PIA) -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration announced today, June 2, the start of the rainy season in the Philippines.

According to the weather bureau’s advisory, the occurrence of scattered thunderstorms, the passage of Super Typhoon (STY) “BETTY” and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) over the past few days have brought widespread rains over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas which signify the start of the rainy season in the country, especially over the Climate Type I areas.

Type 1 Climate, which occurs mainly in the western part of Luzon and Visayas, including Metro Manila, has two pronounced seasons: dry, from November to April, and wet from May to October.

However, prolong ‘monsoon breaks’ or breaks in rainfall events may still occur which can last for several days or weeks.

Further, a transition from ENSO-neutral to El Niño is favored in the next couple of months, with a higher chance of El Niño persisting up to the first quarter of 2024. El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, which could negatively impact some areas of the country (such as dry spells and droughts). But the enhanced Southwest monsoon season (Habagat) may also be expected, resulting in above-normal rainfall conditions over the western part of the country.

Heavy rainfall can lead to numerous hazards such as flooding and landslide. All residents in highly vulnerable areas are advised to be prepared.

The general public and all concerned agencies are also advised to take precautionary measures against the impacts of the rainy season. (KSAA – PIA CPSD)