Baguio City, often revered as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, recorded a brisk 12.2°C early Friday morning, marking the lowest temperature of the current Amihan season. According to Engr. Larry Esperanza, chief meteorological officer at PAGASA-Baguio, this chilly record was noted at the PAGASA Baguio Synoptic Station at around 6:30 a.m.
The cold snap is a characteristic feature of the Amihan season, which influences the weather conditions in various parts of Northern Luzon. In line with this, PAGASA’s 5 a.m. weather forecast indicated potential dips in temperature across the region, with Benguet possibly reaching as low as 11°C, Mountain Province around 13°C, and Ifugao at about 14°C.
This year’s coldest temperature in the region prior to Baguio’s recent record was observed in La Trinidad, Benguet, which experienced a chilly 10.8°C on January 18.
The commencement of the Amihan or Northeast Monsoon season was officially declared by PAGASA in October 2023. This season is characterized by strong northeasterly winds over Northern Luzon, primarily influenced by the intensifying high-pressure system over Siberia. PAGASA has been monitoring several indicators of the Amihan season, including the gradual decrease in surface air temperature in northeastern Luzon and the rise in mean sea level pressure, signaling the onset of cooler and drier air across the country.
Residents and tourists in the affected regions can anticipate the dominance of the northeasterly wind flow, bringing with it colder and drier air. As the Amihan season progresses, episodes of wind and cold temperature surges are also expected, as indicated by PAGASA.