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MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/23 April) — We can say goodbye to El Niño soon.
Ann Fortich, chief meteorological officer of Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)—Malaybalay said the rains are expected as early as May or later in June.
“(El Niño) is expected to end soon, hopefully,” Fortich said, although the monthly record of the rainfall continued to be short of the normal volume.
Climatological data of Pagasa-Malaybalay, showed that the amount of rainfall since December last year and up to this month has remained below normal. In January, rainfall was measured at only 131 millimeters, as opposed to the normal 181 mm. In February, rainfall was only 75 mm instead of the normal 133mm. March was lowest at 32mm compared to the normal 131mm.
This month, the recorded rainfall from April 1 to April 21 was only 47mm as opposed to the normal 129.4 mm.
The El Niño phenomenon has been blamed for the current power crisis, after the water levels in Lake Lanao, the primary source of hydroelectric power in Mindanao, and the Pulangi dam, dipped to critical levels. (April Rose Torion/MindaNews)