“TAG-ULAN” has arrived!

After the sweltering heat of the past few months, we now brace ourselves for rains asPAGASA declared the onset of the rainy season yesterday afternoon, May 24, 2016.

In a press statement, the weather bureau said that widespread rainfall has been observed these past few days. Winds, which previously moved from the east, have now changed from a south to southwest direction, indicating the shift from dry to wet season.

Due to the warm and moist characteristics of the “habagat” or the southwest monsoon, rains and thunderstorms will be frequently experienced in several parts of the country. However, PAGASA clarified that tag-ulan will be mostly experienced over the Climate Type 1 areas, covering the western parts of Luzon and Visayas.

Last year, the onset of tag-ulan was announced on June 23, 2015— delayed compared to this year. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Glaiza Escullar said there is nothing unusual with this because the rainy season normally occurs during the last week of May until early June.

“Mas maaga nga ito compared noong nakaraang taon dahil maaga ring nag-umpisa ang onset sa bahagi ng India, Bangladesh at Myanmar… at kapag nag-south to southwest na rin ang hangin sa bahagi ng China. South to southwest na rin po ang hangin lalo na sa western side ng ating bansa,” Escullar said in an interview with Panahon TV.

Meanwhile, here are the criteria for declaring the onset of tag-ulan:

– A five-day period within April, May, June or July with a total rainfall amount of 25 millimeters or more with three consecutive days having at least 1 millimeter of rainfall per day. This must be recorded at no less than five of these stations: Laoag, Vigan, Dagupan, Iba, Mindoro Occidental, Ambulong, Iloilo, and Metro Manila.

– At least two out of three stations in Metro Manila must have satisfied the first criterion simultaneously.

– Prevailing winds in the Western Philippines should have westerly to southwesterly components. The southwest monsoon,commonly known as hanging habagat, should also be the dominant wind system.

Although some of these criteria are yet to be satisfied, PAGASA decided to declare the onset ahead of time to prepare the public for heavier rains in the coming days. Escullar added that within the next three days, there is a big possibility that all the criteria will be observed.

Now that tag-ulan has arrived, all are advised to regularly bring umbrellas and raincoats. Know more about what to bring in “TAG-ULAN” Checklist: Rainy Day Essentials.

La Niña

El Niño is expected to return to a neutral condition by the end of July. But, there is still a 50% chance that La Niña will develop in the Pacific Ocean. It will possibly affect the country in the last quarter of 2016 (October- December).

Know more: El Niño to end, La Niña to follow?