Summer came early this year, forecasters at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Wednesday, following observations on the gradual termination of the northeast monsoon since late January.

Robert Sawi, chief of the PAGASA Weather Branch Services, explained that cold winds have ceased to blow over most parts of the country since last January 25, making way for the easterly waves to bring warm breeze in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao coming from the Pacific Ocean.

"It's not yet official, but I have observed since last week that the northeast monsoon is over. We are experiencing a transition to the prevailing easterly waves and warm winds coming from the Southeast in the Pacific Ocean, where there is El Niño," Sawi said.

He continued that the heat experienced in the country during the first week of February was brought by the warm breeze coming from the easterly waves and winds from the southeast direction along the Pacific Ocean.

Sawi also noted that the persistence of El Niño condition in the Pacific Ocean near the equator might have influenced the northeast monsoon to end sooner, instead of prevailing until the end of February during a normal year. (Rio Rose Ribaya)