ReliefWeb

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on 30 September 2015 announced that a mature and “strong” El Niño now prevailed in the tropical Pacific Ocean, upgrading the categorization from “moderate” conditions observed in the four months since June.
PAGASA projects that El Niño will remain strong from December 2015 to February 2016 before the ocean temperature of the Equatorial Pacific characterising the phenomenon normalises in May or June 2016. Below normal rainfall is expected in most parts of the country from January to April, which may lead to drought condition. More than 60 provinces including the provinces in Mindanao will be affected by the end of April. PAGASA in its latest drought/dry spell assessment reported that 11 provinces were affected by dry spell and 1 province by drought in Mindanao.