Summer Switch Is Official: PAGASA Says Warm, Dry Season Has Started

PAGASA officially said on Monday, March 23, that the Philippines has entered the warm and dry season for 2026. In short, tapos na ang cool and dry months linked to the northeast monsoon or amihan, and the country should now expect generally hotter days ahead.

The weather bureau said the seasonal shift happened because winds are now turning easterly as a high pressure area forms over the northwestern Pacific. PAGASA added that some parts of Northern Luzon may still feel occasional northeasterly winds, but the broader pattern has already changed.

Amihan had helped bring cooler temperatures across sections of the country from October 2025 to March 2026. With that now ending, conditions are expected to become warmer by the day, with only isolated thunderstorms interrupting mostly fair weather in many areas.

PAGASA also warned that heat index levels are likely to climb until May. That matters because the heat index reflects not just the air temperature but also humidity, meaning mas matindi ang pakiramdam ng init than what the thermometer alone may show.

Because of that, the agency is again reminding the public to drink plenty of water, avoid staying too long under direct sunlight, and use umbrellas or other protection outdoors. The announcement effectively kicks off the period Filipinos commonly call summer, with hotter afternoons now expected nationwide.

Source: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/weather/pagasa-start-warm-dry-season-summer-march-2026/