The public may still squeeze in one final beach trip before the rainy season officially commences, as the state weather bureau announced that the country is currently traversing a transition phase between the dry and wet seasons.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) clarified on Monday that despite the recent uptick in afternoon downpours and thunderstorms, the warm and dry season has not yet formally concluded.
PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja explained that the country is currently shifting between seasonal weather patterns.
“Kasalukuyan nasa transition period po tayo o panahon sa pagitan ng tag-init o dry season at tag-ulan o wet season. Patungo na po tayo sa wet season, at isa sa mga senyales nito ay ang mas madalas na pag-iral ng thunderstorms, lalo na sa hapon hanggang gabi,” Estareja said.
(“We are currently in a transition period or the time between the hot or dry season and the rainy or wet season. We are heading towards the wet season, and one of its signs is the more frequent occurrence of thunderstorms, especially from the afternoon until the evening.”)
This evolving weather dynamic is particularly evident across Luzon, where residents continue to experience sweltering and humid conditions early in the day, followed by sudden precipitation.
“Sa ating mga kababayan sa Luzon, mas mararamdaman na po ang balanseng init ng panahon sa umaga at ang pag-ulan pagsapit ng hapon,” Estareja added.
(“To our fellow countrymen in Luzon, you will feel a more balanced weather of heat in the morning and rain when the afternoon arrives.”)
With localized thunderstorms projected to increase in frequency over the next few days, the weather agency advised the public to remain vigilant. Estareja cautioned that even short-duration, torrential rains could potentially trigger flash floods and landslides in highly vulnerable communities.
Historically, the formal onset of the Philippine rainy season—fundamentally driven by the arrival of the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat—is declared between the latter half of May and the middle of June.