MANILA — Residents in Metro Manila woke up shivering Tuesday morning as the temperature dropped to the lowest level so far this year due to the strong northeast monsoon which continues to affect most parts of Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In an interview, PAGASA weather observer Vivien Relos said that Tuesday’s lowest temperature in the metropolis was recorded at 18.0 degrees Celsius at 6:45 a.m., a point shy compared to the 18.1 degrees Celsius registered last Jan. 27.
She said Metro Manila’s temperature readings are being recorded between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. daily in the vicinity of the PAGASA Science Garden in Diliman, Quezon City.
Relos explained that the strong winds of the northeast monsoon contribute to the dip in temperature reading which is expected to prevail in the metropolis until mid-February.
PAGASA said the all-time lowest temperature recorded in Metro Manila was 14.9 degrees Celsius on March 1, 1963.
Meanwhile, in Baguio City, the lowest temperature so far this year was recorded at 9.8 degrees Celsius on Monday at 6 a.m., PAGASA said.
On Tuesday, the Pine City’s lowest temperature was recorded at 10.5 degrees Celsius at 5:30 a.m.
According to PAGASA’s climatological record, Baguio’s coldest temperature ever recorded was at 6.3 degrees on Jan. 18, 1961.
PAGASA weather forecaster Glaiza Escullar said the effect of the northeast monsoon concentrates will continue to bring cold mornings in some parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, adding that the northeast monsoon usually peaks from mid-January to mid-February.
The northeast monsoon starts blowing into the country from Siberia every mid-October and strengthens every mid-December, Escullar explained.
“So, the public should expect chillier mornings in the coming weeks,” she said.