THE weather bureau on Sunday warned Filipinos to brace for rising temperatures starting today, Monday, due to the termination of the northeast monsoon.
Vicente Malano, head of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said a gradual weakening of the northeast monsoon was expected this month, and that might signal the start of warmer months.
But he said the rainfall forecast for March was expected to be near-normal to above-normal over Mindanao, most part of the Visayas, the Bicol region and some areas in northeastern Luzon.
And most areas in the western and central parts of Luzon would likely experience below-normal rainfall.
Weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said the end of the northeast monsoon would not mean the enad of the dry season but only its onset.
He said there will be lesser rains over the week due to a weak La Niña over the Pacific Ocean.
The northeast monsoon’s looming end signals the coming prevalence of weather systems associated with summer, including the ridge of a high-pressure area and easterly winds.