The rainy season is yet not here despite the almost daily rains.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration weather forecaster Lanie Bitagun said sudden heavy rains and thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening are usually frequent during this time of the year, as warm weather in the daytime makes evaporation and condensation processes faster during summer.
“Thunderstorms are more frequent in May, based on the PAGASA’s historical data,” Bitagun said.
“When the weather is too hot, warm and moist air rapidly moves upward, condenses, and forms cumulonimbus or thunder clouds,” she explained.
Late afternoon or early evening rains accompanied by winds and thunderstorms were felt in the past few days and these occurrences usually lasted less than an hour to about three hours.
While it is still summer or dry season, rains will become more frequent as the country nears the onset of rainy season in late May or early June.
Should the effect of El Niño over the country weaken, Bitagun said the event will not cause a delay in the normal start of rainy season this year.
Rainy season last year officially began on June 8.
The current El Niño, related to the warming in sea surface temperatures across the Pacific, is seen to prevail until the June-August period but Bitagun said there are signs that its effect over the Philippines is gradually weakening. (Ellalyn Ruiz)