Temperature rises, but it’s not yet summer

Despite the rising temperatures over the past few weeks, the state weather bureau is withholding declaration of the dry season or summer until early April because of the lingering northeast monsoon in the northern section of the Philippines.

“We expect the resurgence of the northeast monsoon by Monday until Wednesday. It will weaken on Thursday but will reintensify on Saturday (April 1),” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) senior weather forecaster Rene Paciente told The STAR.

The agency might officially declare the start of the dry season in the first week of April, according to Paciente.

Last year, PAGASA officially declared the onset of the dry season on March 18.

In 2011, the dry season officially commenced on April 12.

The dominant weather system in the country should be the easterlies – warm air from the Pacific Ocean – before PAGASA could declare the start of the dry season.

‘No heat wave’

Meanwhile, Dario de la Cruz, chief of PAGASA’s Space Sciences and Astronomy Section, debunked reports circulating in social media stating that the recent vernal equinox would trigger a heat wave.

The equinox is an astronomical event that happens twice a year on March 20 and Sept. 23 when the sun crosses the equator.

De la Cruz told The STAR that during the vernal equinox, the sun is positioned on top of the northern hemisphere, bringing hot weather.

The Philippines is located in the northern hemisphere.

“After the vernal equinox countries in the northern hemisphere experience longer days, and because the direct rays of the sun are hitting the northern hemisphere we experience warmer weather,” he said.