KOROR (Palau Horizon) — Palau experienced heavy rains for at least four days due to a tropical disturbance that generated numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms here and in Yap.
Maria Ngemaes, the National Weather Service meteorologist, said a tropical disturbance was located south of Koror, and the disturbance was upgraded to a tropical depression.
The National Emergency Management Office said the heavy rains in the past days should not discourage people to prepare for the drought.
“Despite the recent rainfall, the drought is very much expected,” NEMO coordinator Hazime Telei said.
“Let us not be deceived or deterred by the recent rainfall—we must continue to do what is necessary in preparing our families for the drought. If we seriously prepare our communities and ourselves, Palau will not experience or face any disastrous consequences from the anticipated drought,” Telei said.
The tropical depression was located in the Philippine Sea, 70 nautical miles east of Mindanao.
The tropical depression was moving westward at 9 knots. It was expected to be at its closest point near Cebu and Zamboanga.
The tropical depression was expected to form into a storm.
Ngemaes said the rains were due to the tropical disturbance. It does not mean that El Niño is over, he added.
NWSO earlier said that Palau’s rainfall collection had been declining and while the temperature was rising—an indication that El Niño had begun.
