El Niño gripping many provinces despite ‘Lando’

Drought and dry spells triggered by the prevailing El Niño phenomenon are gripping many parts of the country even after typhoon Lando dumped torrential rains and caused massive flooding and widespread destruction in Northern and Central Luzon two weeks ago.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the provinces of Laguna, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Albay, Aklan, and Guimaras have experienced dry conditions, defined as two consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition or 21-60 percent reduction in average rainfall.

The provinces of Quezon, Camarines Norte, Northern Samar and Samar, meantime have been experiencing drought, while Antique, Northern Cotabato and Sarangani are enduring a dry spell.

PAGASA defined drought as three consecutive months of way below normal rainfall condition or below 60 percent reduction in average rainfall, while a dry spell is defined as three-consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition or 21-60 percent reduction in average rainfall.

Citing El Niño prediction models, PAGASA said most of the forecast models indicate a continuation of strong El Niño conditions until the end of 2015. However, the effect of El Niño could persist until mid-2016.

The weather bureau also warned more provinces to brace for drought or dry spell until the end of the year.

It said dry condition will prevail in Abra, Apayao, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Cavite, Rizal, Catanduanes, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-tawi.

Meanwhile, areas that will likely experience a dry spell are Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Aurora, Metro Manila, Batangas, Laguna, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, Camarines Sur, Masbate Sorsogon, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan and Maguindanao.

Drought is expected to prevail in Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Camarines Norte, Aklan, Antique, North Cotabato, and Sarangani, it added.

A strong El Niño has been in progress in the Pacific Ocean.