Weather Today – May 1, 2015 | Preparing for May Weather

As the most awaited fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather approaches, we also have to be prepared with May weather itself. Today, on the first month of May, easterlies will prevail, affecting the eastern section of the Philippines. On the whole, the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Manny Mendoza, aside from the easterlies, different weather systems are expected to affect the country. The intertropical convergence zone or ITCZ will gradually recede northward, bringing a potential low pressure area that might intensify into a tropical cyclone. An average number of 1 to 2 tropical cyclones normally enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) during this month.

The ridge of a high pressure area can also extend over the PAR while the southwest monsoon or habagat, characterized by warm and moist air, could also start to affect the western section of the country.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau continuously monitors the effect of the ongoing El Niño. As of April 27, 2015, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) / International Research Institute (IRI) said that El Nino conditions are present and there is an approximately 70% chance that it will continue through summer in the northern hemisphere, with more than a 60% chance that it will last until autumn.

Based on the Dry Spell Outlook issued by PAGASA, four provinces are likely to experience a dry spell, while forty-two provinces that are affected by the dry spell are more likely to improve.

PAGASA also warns that higher air temperatures might be experienced in the coming days. Today’s temperatures in Metro Manila range from 26 to 35 degrees Celsius, Metro Cebu with 25 to 33 degrees Celsius and Metro Davao will have 24 to 34 degrees Celsius.

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