MARCH 15, 2026 — The calendar says March, the season says summer, but the air outside feels more like December. Pagasa has confirmed that the northeast monsoon, or amihan, continues to blanket most of the Philippines, keeping temperatures unusually low. Metro Manila dipped to 19°C at dawn, while Baguio stunned with a record-breaking 10°C over the weekend.

Weather specialist Aldczar D. Aurelio explained: “We will experience cold weather today because of the northeast monsoon. Currently, the amihan is affecting a large part of our country.” 

March is supposed to be the start of sweaty commutes, electric fans on full blast, and the annual hunt for the best halo-halo in town. Instead, we’re pulling out jackets and sipping hot coffee like it’s Christmas season all over again. For farmers, the cooler climate may ease crop stress, but for beach resorts banking on summer crowds, the timing feels off.

The amihan is also bringing light rains across Luzon, Visayas, and parts of Mindanao, with strong winds in Northern and Central Luzon. 

Pagasa says this chill could linger for two to three more days. That means more mornings where Metro Manila wakes up to a crisp 19°C — something rare enough to trend on social media.

Climate unpredictability is no longer a distant concept. We are living it, from scorching heat waves to sudden cold snaps. The question now is whether we treat these shifts as passing novelties or as warning signs that demand serious attention.

So, are we all for savoring this chill a little longer, or are we already craving the familiar scorch of summer heat?

(Image: Philippine News Agency)