BAGUIO CITY – The weather condition in the country’s undisputed Summer Capital continues to get colder with 9.0 degrees Celsius as the coolest temperature recorded this year by the local office of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) early Wednesday morning, 30 January.
From the 9.8 degrees Celsius temperature in the city that was recorded by PAGASA Monday morning of January 28, it slightly improved to 10.6 degrees Celsius early Tuesday morning, further dipping to 9.2 degrees Celsius Wednesday early morning before finally settling at 9.
Efren Dalipog, PAGASA Baguio weather forecaster, explained the prevailing cool weather condition in the city and other highly elevated areas in Benguet and Mountain Province is being triggered by the enhanced northeast monsoon aggravated by the existence of the tail end of the cold front which are two weather systems that usually exist in Northern Luzon at this time of the year.
“The cold spell will continue up to the end of February or middle of March but the temperature will be fluctuating depending on the strength of the northeast monsoon that will prevail over most parts of Northern Luzon, including Baguio City,” Dalipog stressed.
The PAGASA official disclosed that even the warmest temperature in the city ranges from 19 to 22 degrees Celsius which is much cooler compared to the usual 24 to 26 degrees Celsius warmest temperature being recorded in the city during the middle of the day.
According to him, it is difficult to predict whether or not the recorded coldest temperature will further drop in the coming days because the cold spell will still be until the middle of March that is why there are still a lot of things that could happen anytime.
In other highly elevated areas in Benguet, the coldest temperature in Paoay, Atok, Benguet was around 4 degrees Celsius Wednesday morning while the coldest temperature in Mount Sto. Tomas in Tuba, Benguet was around 6.5 degrees Celsius.
At present, hotels and other lodging establishments in the city are fully booked up to summer because of the desire of tourists to enjoy the prevalence of the cold weather condition which is its natural pull for people to frequent the city and for them to enjoy a well-deserved break.
Dalipog pointed out that with the prevailing weather condition and the effects of climate change, it is impossible for the city to experience the city’s lowest recorded temperature of 6.3 degrees Celsius which was registered on January 18, 1961 but it could still drop to much lower temperature compared to the 9.2 degrees Celsius.
The cold spell in the city and other highly elevated areas in Benguet and Mountain Province usually prevails from November to March but last year, the cold spell started to make its presence felt early October that contributed in enticing more people from the lowlands to visit the city and enjoy the cool weather that is only existent in the city.
Incidents of frost having affected the vegetable produce of farmers in Benguet and Mountain Province drastically declined through the years because farmers have been already vigilant on the important things to do once there will be frost that will form on the leaves of their vegetable crops that are on their vegetative, flowering and harvestable stages to prevent the same from being damaged.
By Dexter A. See
Banner photo by Armando M. Bolislis
