Brace for cooler, drier days ahead; Angat Dam water declines further

Expect cooler and drier days and nights in the country in the coming days as the northeast monsoon season, locally called “amihan,” is almost here.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Ana Clauren said the onset of the cold and dry northeast monsoon is possible by the end of this week or early next week.

Clauren said the cold and dry air coming from the northeast could bring

colder early morning temperature in the coming days and months over Luzon, with chances of light rains, especially over the northern and eastern section.

Amihan is associated with surges of cold weather that may last until February or March.

Meanwhile, she said weather conditions over Visayas and Mindanao will be generally fair but isolated rain showers or thunderstorms could be more frequent in the afternoon or evening.

Based on the PAGASA’s historical record, fewer cyclones form during the latter part of the year.

Clauren said one or two tropical cyclones may form or affect the country in November.

She explained that the track of some tropical cyclones during this period are landfalling or crossing the landmass of Southern Luzon or Visayas, while some cyclones are recurving or do not directly affect the country.

Meanwhile, up to one cyclone may develop or affect the country in December.

PAGASA’s rainfall forecast for November indicates generally near normal rainfall conditions in most parts of the country, while it will likely be below normal in northwestern Luzon.

By December, rainfall condition could be below average in most parts of Luzon, while the rest of the country will likely experience near normal rainfall.

Angat Dam water dwindles Angat Dam still needs a huge volume of rainfall to reach its 210-meter normal high water level for it to supply the multi-requirements on domestic supply, irrigation and energy until the summer of 2020.

Based on the PAGASA’s monitoring as of Wednesday, the level of Angat Dam has further declined to 186.23 meters from last Tuesday’s 186.46 meters.

Earlier, PAGASA said Angat Dam’s current situation can be compared to the 2010 event when the water reservoir plunged to its lowest level in history at 157.57 meters in July, 2010.

During that time, the weather bureau said Angat Dam reached its maximum level of 210 meters only the following year, in September, 2011.

Its level by the end of 2010 only reached 203.3 meters.