When Baguio and Benguet Reminded Us of Winter More Than Once

The white sand beaches and tropical islands of the Philippines truly are unlike any other. But every now and then, when the weather just gets a little too hot and humid in some parts of the country, a lot of us Filipinos prefer to ditch these destinations in favour of colder places.

Until today, Baguio remains undefeated in this area. And through the years, the City of Pines has been able to offer a fair amount of winter-like experiences many of us can only dream of. Both dreamy and for some, dangerous, here are some of the times Baguio reminded us of a winter wonderland in just the last few months.

Also read: Cold Places in the Philippines to Feel Winter in the Tropics

Recent Baguio winter experiences in and around the City of Pines

Frosted plantations

On the last day of January 2021, the temperature in and the surrounding areas of Paoay in Atok, Benguet dropped to 11.5°C. Although many would argue that such numbers aren’t necessarily freezing level, it was definitely cold enough to cover this local vegetable farm with thick frost. It’s not the first time this happened, either!

Extra foggy days

Fog and gloomy skies aren’t new to Baguio and other Benguet destinations. It’s safe to say that they’ve become Benguet attractions in their own right by happening so frequently and quite casually. Some days, the fog can be overwhelming which, while considered picturesque, also poses safety concerns for local motorists.

Snow-like hailstorms

Hailstorms aren’t necessarily the ideal winter imagery most of us have in mind. When these rock-hard balls of ice drop from the sky, they are known to cause severe consequences, especially in extreme cases. If it’s any comfort though, they’re about as dreamy as they are dangerous as soon as they’ve settled on the ground.

Colder-than-ever temperatures

Baguio recorded its coldest temperature in 2021 so far at 9.4°C. In 2020, 10.2°C; and in 2019,°C. While generally not cold enough to cause snowfall, the freezing weather can certainly make us feel like we’re in countries with temperate or continental climates, like South Korea and Russia!

Also read: Baguio Bound? Here’s All You Need to Get There Safely in the ‘New Normal’

Without snow, experiencing winter in the Philippines is impossible. Wrong — as these Baguio winter experiences and attractions (along with those in other corners of Benguet) show. For once, they also prove that sultry tropical destinations aren’t all the Philippines has to offer.