Fifteen provinces are forecasted to experience drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon this month, according to PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando on Sunday, January 14.
Interviewed during DZRH Maynila Ito Ang Pilipinas, Servando identified the 15 provinces as Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Cavite, at Palawan.
The PAGASA administrator explained that drought means there is a "below-than-normal rainfall in five consecutive months."
According to Servando, Cavite had already experienced drought in December 2023.
Twelve other provinces, meanwhile, are forecasted to experience a dry spell this January.
These include Metro Manila, Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Negros Occidental, and Basilan.
As per the PAGASA administrator, a dry spell means there is a three consecutive months of "below normal rainfall."
Dr. Nathaniel Servando, Administrator, PAGASA, sa estado ng El Niño: Ito ay umiiral sa buwang ito, at inaasahan ito hanggang Pebrero. #MaynilaItoAngPilipinas#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) January 13, 2024
LIVE: https://t.co/fWEInVYa4t pic.twitter.com/w5Fvb0zX9Y
El Niño peak
Servando said El Niño will reach its peak in February and may significantly strengthen by April where 56 out of 82 provinces in the country could feel the dry spell.
He, however, noted that El Niño's intensity may change.
"Bagamat ang El Niño phenomenon ay inaasahang nandyan pa rin hanggang sa buwan ng Abril at Mayo. May nakikita tayong base sa forecast models, the little part of April, May, and June season, nakikita na may transition towards El Niño neutral. Meaning, magbabago ang kanyang intensity," Servando said.
The PAGASA administration stressed the importance of intensive preparation for the possible effects of El Niño.
"Dapat paghandaan talaga natin ito. Ang ating pamahalaan ay naghahanda upang maibsan o mabawasan ang dulot nitong El Niño phenomenon," he said.
