SEASONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Wet Season (Tag-ulan): June to November, brought by the southwest monsoon (Hanging Habagat), characterized by heavy rains and peak typhoon activity.  

Cool Dry Season: December to February, brought by the northeast monsoon (Hanging Amihan), with cooler winds and drier air.  

Hot Dry Season (Tag-init/Tag-araw): March to May, influenced by northeast trade winds, marked by high temperatures and minimal rainfall.  

Tropical Maritime Climate: Warm, humid, and abundant rainfall due to the Philippines’ location in the tropics.  

Mountains and Rainfall: Mountain ranges block moist ocean air, causing rain on the windward side and dry conditions on the leeward side.  

Earth’s Tilt: Earth is tilted at approximately 23.5° relative to its orbital plane, causing hemispheres to angle closer or farther from the Sun’s rays throughout the year.  

Philippines’ Latitude: Located between 5°N and 21°N, within the tropics, receiving direct sunlight nearly overhead at noon most of the year.  

Daylight Consistency: Days and nights remain nearly equal year-round, varying only by about an hour or two between December and June.  

Amihan (Northeast Monsoon): Brings cooler, drier air from Central Asia, prevailing from December to February.  

Habagat (Southwest Monsoon): Brings warm, moist air from the Indian Ocean, prevailing from June to November, causing heavy rains.  

Equinoxes: Occur in March and September when the Sun is directly over the Equator, making day and night nearly equal.  

Summer Solstice: June, when the Sun is at its northernmost point, resulting in the longest day of the year.  

Winter Solstice: December, when the Sun is at its southernmost point, resulting in the shortest day and longest night.  

Climate Type I (Two Pronounced Seasons):  

- Dry Season: November to April  

- Wet Season: May to October  

- Found in western Luzon, Mindoro, Palawan, Panay, and Negros, influenced by Habagat.  

Climate Type II (No Dry Season):  

- Rainfall throughout the year  

- Peak rainfall: December to February  

- Found along the eastern coast (Catanduanes, Sorsogon, eastern Albay, eastern Quezon, eastern Mindanao), exposed to Amihan and Pacific trade winds.  

Climate Type III (Intermediate/Short Dry Season):  

- Relatively dry from November to April, wet during the rest of the year  

- Dry season lasts only one to three months  

- Found in western Cagayan, Isabela, parts of the Visayas, and central Mindanao.  

Climate Type IV (Evenly Distributed Rainfall):  

- Rainfall spread evenly throughout the year  

- Ideal for agriculture due to no extreme drought or flooding  

- Found in Batanes Islands, northeastern Luzon, western Leyte, and parts of central and southern Mindanao.  

Key Drivers of Philippine Climate:  

- Northeast Monsoon (Amihan): Cold, dry air from Siberia, bringing rain to the eastern seaboard from October to March.  

- Southwest Monsoon (Habagat): Warm, moist air from the Indian Ocean, bringing heavy rains to the western part of the country from June to September.  

- Trade Winds: Dominant during April and May, bringing warm, mostly dry air, sometimes causing localized thunderstorms.