Chillier mornings here again — PAGASA

MANILA — Brace for cold mornings in most parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, due to the cold weather-associated northeast monsoon or “amihan”, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday.

PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said the “amihan” — the cold winds associated with the Christmas season — continues to affect Northern Luzon.

“So far the effect of northeast monsoon concentrates in Northern Luzon but it will also bring cold mornings in some parts of Luzon including Metro Manila and the northeast monsoon usually peaks from early January to mid-February,” Aurelio told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) in an interview.

He added it starts blowing into the country from Siberia every mid-October and strengthens in mid-December.

“So, the public should expect chillier mornings in the coming weeks,” he noted.

For his part, PAGASA weather observer Mark Calpo said that Thursday’s temperature in Metro Manila was recorded at 23.4 degrees Celsius at 6 a.m. compared to Wednesday’s mercury reading of 23.5 degrees Celsius.

He also said Metro Manila’s temperature readings are being recorded daily in the vicinity of the PAGASA Science Garden in Diliman, Quezon City between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.

PAGASA said that 15.8 degrees Celsius recorded last Jan. 26 was still the “coldest” in the metropolis this year.

PAGASA said the all-time lowest temperature recorded in Metro Manila was at 15.1 degrees Celsius on February 4, 1987 and December 30, 1988.

Meanwhile, for Thursday range of temperature in Baguio City will be 15-23 degrees Celsius and on Wednesday temperature was recorded at 14.5 degrees Celsius.

Baguio City recorded its lowest temperature this season last January 19 at 8.1 degrees Celsius.

Based on the PAGASA’s climatological record, the coldest temperature recorded in Baguio was at 6.3 degrees Celsius on Jan. 18, 1961.

The northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan” is a mass of cold air that blows into the country from Siberia.

It is responsible for the cool weather the country experiences from early November to mid-March.