WEATHER,

SEASONS, AND
CLIMATE IN THE
PHILIPPINES
SCIENCE 6
 WEATHER
Weather refers to the short-term
conditions of the atmosphere in
a specific place at a specific time.
It tells us what the sky looks like,
whether it's sunny, cloudy, rainy,
or windy, and how hot or cold it
feels outside. For example, if it's
raining heavily in Manila today,
that's the weather for today in
Manila.
 CLIMATE
Climate refers to the long-term
patterns of temperature, humidity,
wind, and precipitation in a
particular region. It tells us what the
weather is usually like in a certain
place over a longer period, like a
month, a season, or even many
years. For example, the Philippines
has a tropical and maritime climate,
which means it's usually warm and
humid throughout the year, with
distinct wet and dry seasons.
According to PAGASA
(Philippine
Atmospheric,
Geophysical and
Astronomical Services
Administration), the
climate of the
Philippines is tropical
and maritime.
Climate of the Philippines
The Climate of the Philippines is tropical and maritime. It is characterized by relatively high
temperature, high humidity and abundant rainfall. It is similar in many respects to the climate
of the countries of Central America. Temperature, humidity, and rainfall, which are discussed
hereunder, are the most important elements of the country's weather and climate.
Temperature
Based on the average of all weather stations in the Philippines, excluding Baguio, the mean
annual temperature is 26.6o C. The coolest months fall in January with a mean temperature of
25.5oC while the warmest month occurs in May with a mean temperature of 28.3oC. Latitude is
an insignificant factor in the variation of temperature while altitude shows greater contrast in
temperature. Thus, the mean annual temperature of Baguio with an elevation of 1,500 meters is
18.3oC. This makes the temperature of Baguio comparable with those in the temperate climate
and because of this, it is known as the summer capital of the Philippines.
The difference between the mean annual temperature of the southernmost station in
Zamboanga and that of the northermost station in Laoag is insignificant. In other words, there
is essentially no difference in the mean annual temperature of places in Luzon, Visayas or
Mindanao measured at or near sea level.
Humidity
Humidity refers to the moisture content of the atmosphere. Due to high temperature and the
surrounding bodies of water, the Philippines has a high relative humidity. The average monthly
relative humidty varies between 71 percent in March and 85 percent in September. The
combination of warm temperature and high relative and absolute humidities give rise to high
sensible temperature throughout the archipelago. It is especially uncomfortable during March
to May, when temperature and humidity attain their maximum levels.
Rainfall
Rainfall is the most important climatic element in the Philippines. Rainfall distribution
throughout the country varies from one region to another, depending upon the direction of the
moisture-bearing winds and the location of the mountain systems.
The mean annual rainfall of the Philippines varies from 965 to 4,064 millimeters annually.
Baguio City, eastern Samar, and eastern Surigao receive the greatest amount of rainfall while
the southern portion of Cotabato receives the least amount of rain. At General Santos City in
Cotabato, the average annual rainfall is only 978 millimeters.
The Seasons
Using temperature and rainfall as bases, the climate of the country can be divided into two
major seasons: (1) the rainy season, from June to November; and (2) the dry season, from
December to May. The dry season may be subdivided further into (a) the cool dry season, from
December to February; and (b) the hot dry season, from March to May.
Climate Types
Based on the distribution of rainfall, four climate types are recognized, which are described as
follows:
Typhoons have a great influence on the climate and weather conditions of the Philippines. A
great portion of the rainfall, humidity and cloudiness are due to the influence of typhoons. They
generally originate in the region of the Marianas and Caroline Islands of the Pacific Ocean which
have the same latitudinal location as Mindanao. Their movements follow a northwesterly
direction, sparing Mindanao from being directly hit by majorty of the typhoons that cross the
country. This makes the southern Philippines very desirable for agriculture and industrial
development.
In simple terms, the Philippines
has a tropical maritime climate
because it's warm, near the
equator, and surrounded by the
ocean, which brings lots of rain
and moisture.
 In the Philippines,
there are two kinds of
winds and seasons.
These are the
northeast monsoon
(amihan) and the
southwest monsoon
(habagat).
 In summary, the northeast
monsoon brings cooler and
drier weather to the Philippines
from November to April, while
the southwest monsoon brings
warmer and wetter weather
from May to October. These
monsoons play a crucial role in
shaping the country's climate
and weather patterns
throughout the year.
 These seasons can
also get mixed up with
the effects of El Niño
and La Niña.
El Niño La Niña
METEOROLOGISTS
Meteorologists are scientists who
study the weather and make
predictions about what the weather
will be like. They use tools and
instruments to collect data on
temperature, humidity, wind speed,
and other factors that affect the
weather. They analyze this
information to understand and
forecast weather patterns.
 Remember, weather and
climate affect us every day,
no matter where we live. By
learning about them, we can
become more knowledgeable
and responsible stewards of
our planet.