MANILA— The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned of possible dry spells and drought in several parts of the country as a Very Strong El Niño continues in the tropical Pacific and is expected to last until the first half of 2027.

In an advisory, PAGASA said the climate phenomenon could reach its peak by the end of 2026, bringing below-normal rainfall and warmer-than-average temperatures to most parts of the Philippines.

The agency’s latest drought assessment showed that five provinces experienced meteorological drought in October, while 11 provinces were under dry spell and 10 others recorded dry conditions.

For November, PAGASA expects below-normal to way-below-normal rainfall across most of the country. Several provinces may experience meteorological drought or dry spell conditions by the end of the month.

PAGASA cautioned, however, that periods of heavy rainfall may still occur due to tropical cyclones and other weather systems that bring rain.

The agency urged the public and concerned government agencies to adopt appropriate interventions, conservation efforts and mitigation measures to reduce the potential effects of El Niño.

It particularly emphasized the need to conserve water and manage available water resources efficiently.

For further information, the public may contact PAGASA’s Climatology and Agrometeorology Division at (02) 8284-0800 local 4920 or 4921, or visit its official website at https://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/.