La Niņa has weakened across the tropical Pacific Ocean. Equatorial sea surface temperatures (SST) remain at least 0.5°C below average in the central Pacific, and above average in the eastern Pacific Ocean. La Niņa is expected to transition to ENSO-neutral conditions by the end of April 2012.
Weather systems that affected the country during the month of March were the ridge of high pressure area (HPA), tail-end of a cold front, easterlies and low pressure areas (LPAs). Rainfall assessment for the month was generally above normal in most parts of the country. On the last week of March, northern Negros Occidental, Oriental Mindoro, Aklan, Iloilo, Capiz and Leyte experienced flashfloods due to a shallow LPA and tail-end of the cold front. No tropical cyclone entered or developed in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). Temperature was generally warmer than normal in most parts of the country.
Most parts of the country received above normal rainfall for four (4) consecutive months from December to March, a clear manifestation of La Niņa impacts.
Weather systems likely to affect the country for the month of April are the ridge of high pressure area, wind convergence, easterly wave and slim chance of tropical cyclone occurrence.
The expected rainfall conditions for the month of April will likely be near normal for most parts of the country except for southern Palawan, Masbate, eastern Panay, most areas of Negros, western and southern Mindanao which may receive above normal rainfall. Patches of below normal rainfall is expected over Occidental Mindoro, Eastern Samar and Surigao del Norte.
Air temperatures are expected to be slightly warmer than normal in most parts of the country. The expected ranges of temperature over the archipelago are as follows: 22°C to 36°C over the lowlands of Luzon, 16°C to 26°C for the mountainous areas of Luzon, 23°C to 34°C for Visayas, 22°C to 34°C over the lowlands of Mindanao, and 18°C to 32°C over the mountainous areas of Mindanao.
PAGASA will continue to monitor the day-to-day weather conditions and the large-scale climatic patterns that will affect the country. Updates/advisories on the dissipating La Niņa shall be issued as appropriate. Meanwhile, the public is advised to take precautionary measures against the likely floods in hazard prone areas as possible impact of thunderstorm activities.
For further information, please contact the Climatology and Agrometeorology Division (CAD) at telephone numbers 434-0955 or 434-9024.
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