Summer begins in PH as new storm nears

MANILA, Philippines – As a new storm rolls in, summer begins for the Philippines.

The termination of the northeast monsoon on Tuesday, March 31, officially begins the summer season, according to PAGASA weather specialist Shelly Ignacio. However, this is pending a document from PAGASA officially announcing the monsoon’s termination.

The start of summer comes the day before Typhoon Maysak is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). PAGASA predicts the weather system will enter PAR either on Wednesday evening (April 1) or Thursday morning (April 2).

Maysak may possibly build up into a super typhoon, according to some meteorologists.

It’s not the first time the termination of the northeast monsoon coincided with the arrival of a storm in recent years, PAGASA weather forecaster Jun Galang told Rappler.

Last year, it happened around the same time as Tropical Storm Domeng. It was also observed in 2011. 

“It doesn’t happen all the time but it’s not unusual. Nagkataon lang (It’s just a coincidence),” he said.

This summer, temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius in certain parts of the Philippines like Tuguegarao City in northern Luzon.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in the Philippines was taken in Tuguegarao on May 11, 1969: a soaring 42 degrees Celsius. (READ: May 21 and 22 hottest days of 2014)

The highest temperature recorded in Metro Manila was 38.5 degrees Celsius on May 14, 1987.

Already, temperatures all over the Philippines have soared from the 20s to 30s degrees Celsius to over 30. The hottest place on Tuesday was Tuguegarao City with a temperature of 35.5 degrees Celsius recorded at 4:30 pm. – Pia Ranada/Rappler.com

 Thermometer image from Shutterstock