La Niña over, neutral conditions seen to last until late 2025
MANILA, Philippines – La Niña has ended in the central and equatorial Pacific Ocean, the weather bureau announced on Friday, April 4.
The weather phenomenon started last January and was only expected to last until the first quarter of 2025.
“La Niña-like patterns of above-normal rainfall in some parts of Luzon, most parts of Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and northeastern Mindanao are not likely to linger,” said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in a statement.
Conditions have now shifted to ENSO-neutral, a phase which could last until the September-October-November period. ENSO stands for El Niño Southern Oscillation.
La Niña, El Niño, and neutral are the three phases of ENSO, which the World Meteorological Organization defines as “a recurring natural phenomenon characterized by fluctuating ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, coupled with changes in the atmosphere.”
Heat index monitoring
The Philippines is currently in the early days of its warm and dry season, which began in late March.
PAGASA on Friday also rolled out its Interactive Heat Index Mapping and Prediction (iHeatMap) platform, which provides “nationwide access to real-time heat index data.”
The iHeatMap platform can be accessed here.
PAGASA said iHeatMap includes “high-resolution, gridded heat index information for precise monitoring,” “hourly forecasts for improved accuracy and reliability,” as well as color-coded alerts indicating warning levels.
The heat index, also called the feels-like temperature since it is the temperature perceived by the body, is measured using air temperature and relative humidity. – Rappler.com