Fewer provinces may experience prolonged dry condition by end of May, but the weak El Niño is seen to prevail until the third quarter of 2019.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said 17 provinces in Luzon and Visayas or 20 percent of the country may experience drought, while three provinces in Visayas or four percent of the country may observe dry spell by the end of May.
Provinces that may experience drought are Bataan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Marinduque, Romblon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Aklan, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, and Samar. These comprise 20 percent of the country.
Drought, which is a severe dry condition, is defined as three consecutive months of way below normal (60 percent reduction from average) or five consecutive months of below normal (21 to 60 percent reduction from average) rainfall condition.
Meanwhile, Bohol, Cebu, and Southern Leyte may experience dry spell by end of May.
Dry spell is described by PAGASA as three consecutive months of below normal (21 to 60 percent reduction from average) rainfall conditions or two consecutive months of way below normal (more than 60 percent reduction from average) rainfall conditions.
PAGASA said 41 provinces are currently experiencing drought, while 23 provinces are confronting dry spell. (Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz)
