MANILA — There is a 62 percent chance that the Philippines will experience La Niña starting in June, increasing the possibility of more storms ravaging through the country by the last quarter of the year, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said on Tuesday.

READ: El Niño weakens, La Niña watch issued

While weather bureau PAGASA expects the number of storms to be “below normal” this year due to the prevailing El Niño, the number of typhoons is expected to pick up towards yearend and into early 2025, said Ana Liza Solis, officer in charge of the weather bureau’s Climatology and Agrometeorology Division.

“Possible po na medyo marami tayong bagyo at usually malapit yung development ng bagyo [sa lupa],” she said in a press conference in Malacañang.

“Historically, during La Niña conditions, yung nasa eastern sections ng country… yun yung mga highly vulnerable areas,” she said.

Government agencies will need to be more prepared for typhoons during La Niña as these tend to form closer to the shore, said DOST Secretary Renato Solidum.

“Ibig sabihin niyan mas maikli yung lead time so dapat handang handang tayo,” he said.

“People should always make sure that they are ready… kaya importante yung LGU at family preparedness level,” he said.

Before the onset of La Niña, the number of storms entering the Philippines is expected to be “below normal” due to the lingering effects of El Niño, Solidum said.

READ: Fewer storms in PH this year due to El Niño — PAGASA

Around 16 typhoons are expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility, lower than the average 20 storms the country logs annually, according to data from DOST.

“Very dynamic yung weather system that’s why we have to keep on updating everyone,” he added.

El Niño monitoring platform launched

This is one of the reasons that the government has launched the El Niño Southern Oscillation Online Platform, a website that can shows which areas in the Philippines are experiencing the effects of El Niño and La Niña, Solidum said.

READ: 37 provinces experience drought as El Niño continues to weaken — PAGASA

“The public can look at the platform to know more about the different sectors… look at information materials to help them prepare for El Niño and later on La Niña, and later on contribute to the preparedness of their communities,” he said.

“There will be a part of the platform that will be exclusive to local government units… so that we can have the same set of information that can be shared to the public later on,” he said.

The website will also be crucial in the coming months as 54 provinces are expected to experience drought conditions, while 10 others will be hit by dry spells in May, Solidum said.

“By April there will still be a lot of areas to be affected by way below normal rainfall. Rains will come by May but there will still be other areas that will have less rainfall,” he said.

The government has identified which deep wells will be reactivated, but are also cautious in the overuse of these facilities as it may affect ground or soil conditions, he said.