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Tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October).
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands.
A tropical country, much of the Philippines has a hot and dry climate from March to May. Generally, the southwest monsoon - and the typhoons it brings - predominates from June to October. The dry cooler season during the northeast monsoon period lasts from November to February. Year round temperatures range from 78F (25C) to 90F (32C); mean annual humidity is at 83%. Rainfall varies with the region:
Type 1 has two seasons, dry November-May and wet June-October. Type 1 areas are found mainly in the western half of Luzon (including Manila), Palawan, Coron, Cuyo and the lower part of Antique, Iloilo and Negros.
Type 2 lacks a distinct dry seasonbut has a pronounced maximum rain period December-February. Areas include eastern Bicol, eastern Mindanao, northern and eastern Samar and southern Leyte.
Type 3 areas, which do not have a pronounced maximum rain period but a short dry season of 1-3 (November-January) months include central Luzon, Visayas and western Mindanao.
Type 4 sees even rainfall throughout the year and is found in the eastern coast of Luzon, Leyte and Bohol, and in central Mindanao.
Sitting in the typhoon belt, the Philippines has about 23 typhoons each year. High season is June-October, with the peak in July-September, coinciding with the height of the southwest monsoon.
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