The northeast monsoon, locally known as Hanging Amihan, is likely to be declared before the end of October, bringing cooler temperatures and rainfall to parts of the country amid the prevailing El Niño, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday.
“Normally, the onset of the northeast monsoon is between Oct. 22 and Oct. 30,” Ana Liza S. Solis, chief of PAGASA’s climate monitoring and prediction section, said during the agency’s climate forum in Filipino.
“So let us expect that in a few days or weeks, we will declare the onset of the northeast monsoon, which will bring colder winds,” she added.
Ms. Solis said the northeast monsoon is one of the weather systems expected to bring rainfall, particularly in the eastern portions of the country, amid the expected prolonged drought induced by the ongoing strong to very strong El Niño.
Other rain-bearing weather systems include the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), easterlies and tropical cyclones.
Ms. Solis said up to four tropical cyclones are likely to develop or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) between November and April 2027, two of which may persist until the end of the year.
In other news, PAGASA is still monitoring Super Typhoon Champi, which was located 725 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, according to the bureau’s 4:00 p.m. weather advisory.
Storm Signal No. 2 has been raised over Batanes, while Signal No. 1 has been raised over Cagayan, the eastern portion of Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Apayao and the northeastern portion of Catanduanes.
Heavy rainfall of 50 to 100 millimeters is also expected in Batanes, Ilocos, Norte, Apayao, and Cagyan within the next 24 hours, PAGASA said in its earlier 11 a.m. weather advisory.
PAGASA warned of life-threatening winds, flooding and landslides in the affected areas. — Edg Adrian A. Eva