'Pinoys may experience wet Christmas due to La Niña'

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos may experience a wet Christmas this year because of the prevailing La Niña phenomenon, the weather bureau said yesterday.

“By December the northeast monsoon will be the dominant wind system so it will be cool and wet,” Graciano Yumul, supervising undersecretary of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said in a text message.

Citing latest reports from the APEC Climate Center (APCC), Yumul said that from November 2011 to January 2012, there is a “strong chance of above normal rainfall in the tropical western Pacific, including the Philippines.”

The APCC report stated that “anomalously warm conditions are expected over most of the region, including the Philippines.”

Yumul said the warmer temperature refers to a higher sea surface temperature that will result in more rains.

“These are consistent with La Niña signatures,” he said.

The APCC, located in Busan, South Korea, is a leading climate information service provider in the Asia-Pacific region.

PAGASA said most parts of Luzon are likely to experience above normal rainfall except for northeastern parts of Isabela and Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Albay, and the eastern area of Quezon province next month.

Above normal rainfall is also expected over Palawan, Mindoro, Romblon, southern parts of Negros and tip of southern Cebu, ARMM and Socsksargen provinces, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Davao del Sur.

Meanwhile, no tropical cyclone is expected to affect the country until Sunday.

Today, the whole country will have good weather condition which is expected to prevail until tomorrow.

Reinier Padua, Philippine Star