The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) officially announced the beginning of the rainy season on Thursday, pointing to continuous precipitation triggered by the Southwest Monsoon, locally known as habagat, over the last few days.
The state weather bureau explained that recent meteorological assessments and data revealed intermittent to frequent rainfall across multiple regions. This development marks the formal start of the wet season, particularly in the western portions of Luzon and the Visayas.
According to PAGASA, the atmospheric patterns observed over the past five days successfully fulfilled the specific criteria required to declare the official start of the season.
However, the state agency clarified that the public should still expect “monsoon breaks,” which are temporary intervals of decreased rainfall that can persist for days or weeks.
Furthermore, the weather bureau cautioned that the evolving atmospheric conditions linked to an approaching El Niño phenomenon are projected to intensify the southwest monsoon. This interaction is expected to trigger more severe downpours across western Luzon and the Visayas in the ahead months.
With the wet season now underway, PAGASA has called on the public to stay alert and adopt essential safety measures against hazards tied to relentless rains, the monsoon, and related weather disturbances.
Local government units, residents, and disaster management agencies have been urged to consistently track official weather forecasts to effectively prepare for risks such as flash floods and landslides.