Samal Seasons
Spending a rainy holiday weekend in the greater Seattle area reminded me again of the differences in perception of seasons within various areas. I’ve lived in Spokane since 1990, having moved over from Everett, which is north of Seattle. Seattle is well known, at least within the US, for it’s rainfall. It’s not generally much more than a drizzle but it’s the cumulative number of days of this that lead to it’s reputation. They have their summer, too, but if you blink you might miss it. At least that’s one of the many jokes you hear there.
Spokane on the other hand is one of the few cities I’ve ever lived that has four real seasons. There’s snow and cold in the winter, rain and wind in the spring, gets dry and hot (100+ on occasion) in the summer, and my favorite, beautiful autumn colors in the fall.
I understand that the Samal Island/Davao has seasons, also. I’ve been told there is the rainy season, but I’m not sure what the other is called. I think there is a chance that I’m being teased, though. In all my trips to the Philippines, I’ve seen downpours of rain almost on a daily basis. Now I’ve been there in late August, late January, early July and early April. Some of the time I was in the Manlia area and other time around Davao. I personally saw no real difference in the weather during those time.
I guess if you live in a region long enough the small differences in climate change seem larger than to the outsider. My mom tells me it gets cold in Tucson, which if you don’t know, is a desert. To her I’m sure it seems that way, but I lived there and I can rarely classify their weather as cold.
Maybe that’s what’s going on with the folks around Davao. Or maybe it’s the ongoing joke for us foreigners.
1. December 2008 at 4:09 pm :
The northern Philippines has seasons, as you said – rainy season and dry season. This far south, though, we don’t really have seasons that are very pronounced. Rainfall is fairly constant through the year, with minor variations, but nothing too drastic at all. The weather that you have experienced in your trips to Mindanao will be fairly constant throughout the year.
1. December 2008 at 6:39 pm :
Hi Bob – from here on out I expect that we will mostly be visiting Davao/Samal Island. It’s good to know that my initial experiences with the area are indicative of what to expect. I must have just had bad luck or timing in the Manila area, as it rained almost every day. At least that’s the way I remember it. My memory’s not so great, though
2. December 2008 at 3:33 pm :
WET WETTER HOT HOTTER – that’s the 4 seasons we have in the Philippines – in Luzon specially.
Mindanao (Samal) not so distinct. It depends if the ITCZ is active here or not. IF it is, then we will have clouds, squalls, thunderstorms and rain – mostly at nights. Squalls move fast, so the strong winds and pouring rain afterwards, is within a very short period 1/2 hour to 1 hour.
The 2 main seasons as described in my website is the amihan (NE monsoon) and Habagat (SW monsoon). Generally where the winds are coming from. The NE trades generally means there is a high pressure system in the pacific northwest, so better season for us and cooler winds. The habagat means that there is a low pressure system usually in the South China Sea SW of Mindanao or in the NE area of Mindanao. This brings warm SW winds, or much lighter wind and this is the typhoon season for the philippines.
2. December 2008 at 6:27 pm :
Hi Ellen – WOW, you really know your meteorology stuff. Guess that must be at least partially due to your sailing adventures. I’m afraid to admit that I’m more of a go outside and see what it’s doing type of guy.
If I were to head out to sea, I think I’d look into it a little more than I normally do
3. December 2008 at 2:27 pm :
Hi Randy, hahaha. Going outside to look at the skies works the best. Yes, it is a matter of survival for us to know how to read weather faxes. Still get so confused. I still use my forefinger to draw circles in the air, counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere for low pressure systems. Problem is the circles I draw are so small, but at sea, we are affected even though we are 200-500 miles away.
3. December 2008 at 3:09 pm :
Hi Ellen – frankly it could be pretty scary not knowing what to expect while out to sea. You obviously are an old hand at it now, but I bet in the beginning it caused some concern.
Here’s an example of that consistent Davao/Samal weather. The variances between the highs and lows from day to day are almost non existent. The graphics showing sun with rain is too funny.