The latest storm and low pressure news from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Agency (PAGASA) said that a low pressure area may form in the Philippine Forecast Area (PAR) in the first week of January 2026.
In the first week of January, there may be a low pressure area formed with low probability of strengthening into a tropical storm in the Sulu Sea" - Typhoon forecaster Charmage Varilla of PAGASA said.
Mr. Varilla also noted that if a low pressure area does not form, that area is likely to become a trophic convergence zone, where winds from the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere are concentrated.
Philippine forecasters said that no low pressure areas or tropical storms are expected to enter PAR in the last days of 2025.
Northeast monsoon is still the main weather system in Luzon, Philippines on December 27, causing cloudy skies and rain in Batanes and the Babuyan Islands.
Regarding storm forecasts for the first half of 2026, Philippine media reported on December 27 that PAGASA forecasts 2 to 8 storms to enter the Philippine forecast area in the first half of 2026.
Before the New Year 2026, PAGASA announced the list of storm names for 2026, in which the first 5 storm names are respectively: Ada, Basyang, Caloy, Domeng, Ester.
Previously, at the 191st climate forum in mid-December, PAGASA predicted that there would be 0-1 tropical storms per month from January to April.
Storm activity is forecast to increase in May and June, with forecasts of 1-2 storms forming each month.
Ms. Ana Liza Solis - Head of Climate Monitoring and Forecasting Department of PAGASA pointed out that average temperatures near normal to above normal expected to appear in most areas of the Philippines in the first half of 2026.
Temperatures will gradually warm up from March onwards, with peak heat seasons taking place from April to May.
Meanwhile, rainfall above normal to near normal will occur in most areas of the Philippines in January.
From February to April, most areas in Visayas and Mindanao are forecast to have rain near normal levels. East Mindanao may record more rain than normal, while Northern and Western Luzon may have less rain than normal.
Philippine weather forecasters predict June will have near-normal rainfall nationwide.
PAGASA's forecast also said that the weak and short La Nina phenomenon is affecting the Pacific tropics, likely to last until the first quarter of 2026.
After that, this area will switch to the neutral phase of the El Nino - Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, meaning that both La Nina and El Nino are no longer dominant.
