14 provinces reeling from El Niño

Drought-hit provinces climbed to 14 as the strong El Niño phenomenon continues to dry up parts of the country, according to the state weather bureau.

By the end of February, there could be 24 drought-hit provinces.

The provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Pangasinan are experiencing drought as of the end of January.

Drought was earlier declared in the provinces of Apayao, Bataan, Cagayan, Cavite, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga and Palawan.

Most global climate models predict that El Niño will persist through the March-May season, according to state seismologists.

Drought conditions are characterized by below normal rainfall conditions (21 to 60 percent reduction from average) for five consecutive months, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Meanwhile, dry spells are occurring in 10 provinces in Luzon and the Visayas, including Abra, Aurora, Bataan, Isabela, Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, Quirino, Rizal and Zambales.

Dry spells are below normal rainfall conditions for three consecutive months.

Dry conditions were recorded in 17 provinces – Batangas, Laguna, Masbate and Oriental Mindoro in Luzon; Antique, Biliran, Capiz, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Oriental and Samar in the Visayas and Lanao del Norte, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in Mindanao.

Dry conditions are below normal rainfall conditions for two consecutive months.

The northeast monsoon and the easterlies are expected to affect parts of the country, bringing light and scattered rains.

Flash floods and landslides during moderate and heavy rains are possible, PAGASA warned.