Monsoon breaks – or rain breaks lasting a few days or weeks – can also occur during the season.
Expect occasional to frequent rains and thunderstorms with the onset of the southwest monsoon or habagat season, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) confirmed on Saturday, May 30.
The southwest monsoon brings warm and moist winds as it blows southwesterly over the western section of the country.
“With the intrusion of westerly winds and the progression of the general meteorological pattern across the country, these developments suggest the start of the southwest monsoon, which is one of the precursors of the onset of the rainy season,” PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said.
Servando added that monsoon breaks – or rain breaks lasting a few days or weeks – can also occur during the season.
PAGASA advised the public to take precautionary measures against the adverse impacts of the southwest monsoon and other climate and weather events.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) has raised Code White Alert with PAGASA’s warning that Severe Tropical Storm Domeng could intensify into a typhoon on Saturday night.
Under the Code White Alert, the DOH Operations Center ensures the availability of medicines and medical equipment, especially in vulnerable communities.
Concerned Centers for Health Development (CHD) have been tasked to prepare health commodities such as medicines and hygiene kits, medical equipment, as well as deploy health emergency teams.
“All CHDs were instructed to be on alert 24/7 regarding the situation in their respective areas so that necessary assistance can be provided immediately,” the DOH said on social media.
Yesterday morning, PAGASA reported that Domeng’s maximum sustained winds increased from 95 kilometers per hour to 100 kph. Domeng’s trough or extension is currently causing scattered rains and thunderstorms in Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon and Masbate. – With an additional report from Rhodina Villanueva