By Eli C. Dalumpines

Tacloban City (22 November) -- If the prevailing trend of weather condition as observed by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) continues, the coming of EL Nino is certain.

Catbalogan Weather Station Chief Eduardo de la Cruz, in an interview Tuesday, said rainfall in the past few months has remained below normal which indicates that an abnormal weather condition prevails.

This was coupled by the rising temperature experienced here at Samar's capital, de la Cruz noted.

He cited the temperature last November 14 which hit 35 degrees centigrade, far higher than the highest temperature recorded during normal conditions which only reached 30 degrees centigrade.

De la Cruz, however, clarified that the draught that is expected to hit the country in the next few months is only mild but stressed that that this will surely affect the country's rice production, especially those farms that are rain fed.

PAGASA has observed that the indicators for the EL Nino weather phenomenon has strengthened last October as manifested by the rising of the sea surface temperature in the Central Equatorial and Eastern Pacific (CEEP) and the rising sea level pressure between the waters of Tahiti and Darwin in Australia.

Latest international forecast models indicate that the intensification of EL Nino is expected in the next three months and the dry spell is likely to continue to affect the country until June, next year.