May 01, 2024 - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced on Wednesday that one to two storms could form within or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this May.
This prediction comes as the Philippines continues to experience record-breaking high temperatures, which are expected to decrease in mid-May as the country transitions from the dry season to the rainy season.
The rainy season in the Philippines typically begins in June and lasts until November. During this period, the country is hit by an average of 20 storms, causing widespread floods and damaging crops and houses.
PAGASA weather specialist Rhea Torres outlined two possible scenarios for the storms this May. The first scenario is that a storm could hit areas in the eastern part of the country before it recurves away from the landmass. In the second scenario, if the storm forms over the east of Mindanao, the weather disturbance could head towards Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, Mimaropa, including parts of Calabarzon, before it reaches the West Philippine Sea.
As of now, PAGASA has not monitored any low-pressure area inside or outside the Philippine area, and the nation could remain storm-free until next week.
The Philippines, being an archipelagic country, is regularly exposed to tropical cyclones and is among the countries most affected by extreme weather events. The impact of these storms is significant, often resulting in loss of life, displacement of people, and extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
As the climate crisis worsens due to greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, the Philippines, despite contributing less than 0.4% to global emissions, faces some of its worst effects in the form of increasingly destructive storms.
Citizens are urged to stay informed about weather updates and to prepare for the potential storms. The government and disaster response agencies are also called upon to ensure readiness to mitigate the impacts of these weather disturbances.