The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned that the short-lived La Niña now affecting the country will continue to bring above-normal rainfall in many regions until February, increasing the risk of flooding, landslides and weather disruptions.

In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, Pagasa Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section chief Ana Liza Solis said the current La Niña episode is expected to last no more than six months, but will still have a strong influence on local weather conditions.

Solis explained that La Niña develops when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific cool, strengthening weather systems that push more moisture toward the Philippines.

“Nandyan pa rin po iyong banta ng mataas na dami ng pag-ulan, so magiging prevalent po at maraming beses na mararanasan iyong mga rain-bearing weather systems natin,” Solis said.

“Lalo na po iyong shear line, very prevalent po siya ngayon.”

Pagasa released a La Niña Watch in August and raised it to a La Niña Alert in September when conditions began to develop. Since then, several tropical cyclones have entered the Philippine area of responsibility, triggering heavy rains in Luzon, the Visayas, and parts of Mindanao.

Solis said rainfall risks remain elevated in Region II, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, the Bicol Region, Western and Central Visayas, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, the Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro region.

The eastern sections of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are expected to experience the heaviest rains until early February. (PNA)