Start preparing for wet season, Philippine public told

Manila Bulletin: The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) urged the public Tuesday to begin preparations for the typhoon season. The typhoon season usually starts in June although two tropical cyclones have already battered the country for almost a week and another tropical storm is about to enter the country.

“It is important for the public to prepare for the typhoon season with or without climate change,” PAGASA office of the deputy administrator for operations and services officer-in-charge Nathaniel Cruz said. Cruz is also PAGASA’s spokesman and weather branch chief. He stressed that now is the right time to prepare while it is not yet the peak of the typhoon season. Roofs should be in good condition and street canals should be free from garbage to avoid flashfloods, he said.

The rainy season usually starts during the second half of May or the first week of June. It officially starts when the prevailing winds are coming from the southwest or the southwest monsoon, also known as“hanging habagat.” Hence, monsoon rains are experienced in the western part of the country, including Metro Manila, from May until September or October with its peak in July and August. The southwest monsoon is enhanced by the presence of tropical cyclones.

Cruz, however, stressed that the weather bureau has yet to declare the official onset of the rainy season as the southwest monsoon is not yet the prevailing weather system. He said the entry of tropical storm “Chan-Hom,” to be locally named “Emong,” will “most likely herald the onset of the rainy season.”…

Typhoon Durian hitting Philippines, 2006