The El Ni?o phenomenon has triggered a drought in Capiz province and caused dry spells in many other areas, and may affect the country's climate throughout the first half of 2010, state weather forecasters said. But the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said there is a small chance of at least one cyclone occurring this month. “Weather systems that will likely influence the climate for January 2010 are the northeast monsoon, the tail-end of the cold front, ridge of HPA (high pressure area), easterly wave, and a slim chance of occurrence of one tropical cyclone. Most parts of Luzon and Visayas will likely have below normal rainfall condition,” it said. It said parts of western, central and eastern Mindanao are expected to have drier climate, while the southern part will experience near normal rainfall. Pagasa said Capiz is in drought after five consecutive months from August to December with below normal rainfall. The number of areas experiencing dry spells are up, including Benguet, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Batangas, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Mindoro, Romblon, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Northern Samar and Aklan.
