PAGASA

El Niño Advisory No. 1

20 February 2019

Press Statement
Quezon City, 20 February 2019

Recent PAGASA’s climate monitoring and analyses indicate that the unusually warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP) which started since November 2018 is expected to become a full-blown El Nińo.

During the past three (3) months, rainfall analyses showed that impacts of below normal rainfall conditions in provinces of Western Mindanao and Ilocos Norte were already experienced and are expected to continue.

The El Nińo is anticipated to be weak and will likely result to below normal rainfall conditions in different parts of the country in the coming months. Impacts also include slightly warmer surface temperatures in varying degrees from place to place and from time to time.

With this development, the El Nińo Watch issued since July 2018 is now upgraded to El Nińo Advisory. All concerned agencies and the general public are advised to take precautionary measures to mitigate the potential adverse impacts of El Nińo. PAGASA will closely monitor these conditions and regular updates and advisories shall be issued as appropriate.

VICENTE B. MALANO, PhD
Administrator