Brace for hotter days in May – PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines — Butuan City in Agusan del Norte and Legazpi City in Albay recorded a heat index of 48 degrees and 47 degrees Celsius, respectively, in the past two days amid an extreme heat danger warning issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Dr. Marcelino Villafuerte II, who heads the impact assessment and applications section of PAGASA’s Climatology and Agrometeorology division, warned the public that a higher heat index may be expected in May.

The state weather bureau said a heat index of 44 degrees Celsius was recorded in Catarman, Northern Samar and Virac, Catanduanes and 43 degrees at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday.

The heat index in Baler in Aurora, Dagupan in Pangasinan and Iba in Zambales was recorded at 43 degrees Celsius.

The heat index was recorded at 42 degrees at the Central Luzon State University in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija; Davao City; Maasin, Southern Leyte, and the cities of Masbate, Tacloban and Tayabas.

The highest heat index recorded from March 1 to April 21 was in Butuan City at 48 degrees Celsius; Legazpi City and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, 47 degrees, and Dagupan City and Aparri, 46 degrees.

Based on the five-day outlook, PAGASA said the temperature was forecast at 50 degrees Celsius at the Science Garden in Quezon City yesterday and 51 degrees in Catbalogan, Samar on April 25..

Villafuerte said the highest heat index recorded in the country was 55 degrees Celsius in Dagupan on May 1 last year.

The weather bureau said heat index is the temperature felt by the body relative to high humidity.

Water levels in more Luzon dams drop

Meanwhile, the water levels in two more dams in Luzon – Binga in Benguet and Ipo in Bulacan – dropped due to rising temperatures.

The water levels in five other dams  – Angat in Bulacan, La Mesa in Quezon City, Ambuklao in Benguet, San Roque in Pangasinan and Caliraya in Laguna – further dropped yesterday.

As of 6 a.m. yesterday, the water level in Angat dropped by 0.34 centimeters compared to 196.86 meters on Friday.

The water level in Ipo dropped to 98.87 meters yesterday from 98.88 meters on Friday; La Mesa, 77.17 meters from 77.19 meters; Ambuklao, 740.15 meters from 740.18 meters; Binga, 566.62 meters from 567.08 meters; San Roque, 236.03 meters from 236.16 meters, and Caliraya, 286.13 meters from 286.40 meters.