PAGASA: Everybody should brace themselves for La Niña in the 4th Quarter of 2010 and the 1st Quarter of 211

Manila (18 October) -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued a warning to the public about the onset of La Nina in the country that will continue at least until early 2011.

Yumul urged all government agencies and the public to take precautionary measures to mitigate the potential impacts of La Nina.

According to Graciano P. Yumul, Officer in Charge of PAGASA Office of the Administrator, La Nina periods are usually associated with above normal rainfall across most areas of the country during the last quarter of the year and early months of the following year.

Yumul said that rainfall assessment in September was below normal in most parts of Luzon, Leyte province and Eastern Mindanao. "Near to above normal rainfall was observed over most areas of the Bicol region, Central Visayas, Western and Central Mindanao," Yumul added.

PAGASA predicted that the northeast (NE) monsoon, Inter tropical Convergebce Zone (ITCZ), the tail end of the cold front, ridge of HPA and three (30 or four (4) tropical cyclones are the weather systems likely to affect the country in October.

"There is a probability of above normal rainfall condition to be experienced over some areas of Central Luzon, Bicol region, Mindanao provinces and the northern portion of Panay island and generally near normal over the rest of the country," Yumul said.

"The present La Nina episode may adversely impact on domestic water supply, agriculture and the health sector and may also cause flood, flashflood and rain induced landslides in hazard prone areas," Yumul warned.

Yumul also assured the public that PAGASA will continue to closely monitor the weather conditions and will issue appropriate updates and advisories. (PIA-NCR)