Courtesy: istock
THE Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Wednesday reported that 17 provinces in Luzon are expected to face drought conditions by the end of January due to the impact of the El Niño phenomenon.
Pagasa Officer-in-Charge Nathaniel Servando said the affected provinces include Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pampanga, Tarlac, Batangas, Cavite, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan.
Additionally, dry conditions are expected over the Spratly Islands, while a dry spell is likely over Abra, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Quirino, Bataan, Bulacan, Zambales, Aurora, Occidental Mindoro, and Metro Manila.
Pagasa defines a dry spell as three consecutive months of below-normal rainfall conditions or a 21 to 60 percent drop in average rainfall.
A dry condition is characterized by two consecutive months of below-normal rainfall or a 21 to 60 percent reduction in average rainfall.
Drought is declared when there are five consecutive months of below-normal rainfall conditions or three consecutive months of way below-normal rainfall conditions (more than a 60 percent reduction from average).
