Summers getting hotter in Metro

MANILA, Philippines - Summer days in Metro Manila are growing hotter due to continued urbanization, a government meteorologist said yesterday.

Nonoy About, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said that for the past eight years, they observed an alarming rise in the maximum day temperature in Metro Manila.

“We notice a one degree rise in maximum temperature in Metro Manila during the summer season,” About told The STAR, adding a one-degree rise is already high.

Some of the warmest temperatures recorded in Metro Manila were 36.7^o Celsius on April 18, 1999; 37 ^oC on April 22, 2000; 36.8 ^oC on April 25, 2001; 37.5 ^oC on May 13, 2002; 37 ^oC on May 15, 2003; 37.8 ^oC on April 28, 2004; 37.9 ^oC on April 15, 2005; 36.6 ^oC on April 21, 2006; 37 ^oC on April 24, 2007; and 37 ^oC on April 18, 2008.

About said there are other factors that contribute to the increasingly hot summers in the metropolis, such as climate change and the area’s closeness to bodies of water.

About also warned that this summer is expected to be hotter compared to the past years.

About said the continued reduction in trees and plants in Metro Manila causes higher daytime temperatures.

He said the temperature in Metro Manila this weekend is expected to be between 34 and 35 ^oC. – Helen Flores