La Niña has arrived, PAGASA confirms

National

By MyTVCebu Desk

LA NIÑA conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific Ocean, signaling potential shifts in weather patterns that may affect the country in the first quarter of 2025, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) confirmed.

According to PAGASA's first La Niña advisory, periods of cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which began in September 2024, have persisted and strengthened, reaching the threshold for La Niña conditions by December 2024.

This phenomenon is characterized by a sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) of -0.5°C or lower, with forecasts indicating that the three-month SSTA for the December-January-February (DJF) and January-February-March (JFM) periods will remain below -0.5°C.

PAGASA noted that climate models predict La Niña conditions could persist through at least the January-March 2025 period, potentially influencing rainfall patterns and tropical cyclone activity in the Philippines.

This could lead to higher-than-normal rainfall, increasing the risk of floods, flash floods, and rain-induced landslides, particularly in vulnerable regions.

The agency also warned of a possible uptick in tropical cyclone activity within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) during this period.

Given the potential hazards, PAGASA urged the public and relevant government agencies to closely monitor weather updates and advisories in the coming weeks.

As the country braces for the impacts of La Niña, PAGASA emphasized the importance of preparedness and vigilance to mitigate the risks associated with the ongoing weather phenomenon.(CMM)