Pagasa declares start of rainy season

MANILA, Philippines —THE Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) announced on Wednesday that scattered rain showers, thunderstorms and Typhoon «Aghon» marked the start of the rainy season.

Pagasa Administrator Nathaniel Servando, in a statement, said the southwest monsoon or «habagat» was also likely to occur in the coming days.

«All these brought significant rains in the past days over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas and it signified the start of the rainy season in the country,» Servando told The Manila Times in a text message.

Moreover, the Pagasa official said there was a high chance of La Niña conditions developing from July to September.

«It increases the likelihood of above-normal rainfall conditions in some areas of the country, especially toward the end of the year,» he said.

On one hand, there may be breaks in rainfall that will extend over a few days or weeks, also referred to as monsoon breaks, the state-run weather agency said.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said while Typhoon «Aghon» was outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the southwesterly windflow — wind blowing from the southwest — was enhanced by the storm, bringing moderate to heavy rains over the western portions of Northern Luzon, Central Luzon and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) until Thursday.