The El Niño phenomenon has officially ended, according to an announcement made by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Friday.
The Pagasa El Niño Southern Oscillation Alert and Warning System (ENSO) has been downgraded to inactive (ENSO-neutral), while the La Niña watch is still in effect.
El Niño is described by Pagasa as a “large scale oceanographic/meteorological phenomenon that develops in the Pacific Ocean, and is associated with extreme climatic variability” such as heavy rains, winds, and drought.
Pagasa stated in a press release that the tropical Pacific conditions have returned to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-neutral levels, marking the end of El Niño. The transition from ENSO-neutral to La Niña is likely to occur by the July-August-September 2024 season.
Despite the ENSO-neutral conditions and prevailing southwest monsoon or “habagat,” impacts of El Niño such as warmer surface temperatures and below-normal rainfall may still affect certain parts of the Philippines.
Pagasa emphasized the importance of monitoring and taking precautionary measures against impending climate impacts, and assured that they will continue to closely monitor any significant developments related to this climate phenomenon.
