‘Extreme danger heat index seen in May’

MANILA, Philippines — The cities of Puerto Princesa in Luzon and Cotabato in Mindanao sizzled with a heat index of 42 degrees Celsius on Saturday, according to state meteorologists.

As this developed, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that the heat index in May could reach “extreme danger,” or from 52 degrees Celsius and up.

PAGASA said that since Thursday, the heat index in Cotabato City has remained at 42 degrees Celsius, and will persist today.

The highest heat index recorded since the start of this month was in La Union on March 19, with 47 degrees Celsius.

PAGASA said Puerto Princesa City in Palawan was expected to experience 41 degrees Celsius today.

Marcelino Villafuerte II, chief of the impact assessment and applications section of PAGASA’s  climatology and agrometeorology division, said the “danger and extreme danger” levels of the heat index are expected in April and May, especially now that summer, or the warm and dry season, has officially started.

Villafuerte said the “danger” heat index ranged between 42 and 51 degrees Celsius while the “extreme danger” is from 52 degrees Celsius and up.

Ana Liza Solis, officer-in-charge of PAGASA’s climatology and agrometeorology division, said that although the El Niño phenomenon has weakened, its impact could still be felt and result in one of the warmest dry months in the country.

“The top 10 warmest on record in the country were associated with a strong El Niño. Since the warm and dry season started, the impact of a strong El Niño is still being felt despite its weakening,” Solis said.

The World Meteorological Organization has declared 2023 as the hottest year on record since the 1850s.

“During that time, the El Niño phenomenon and the northern hemisphere summer had started. The temperature last year was record high, especially in mid-latitude countries. Last year, the Philippines ranked 11th among countries with the warmest temperature based on the preliminary analysis of PAGASA,” Solis said.

She said the temperature could reach 40 degrees Celsius between April and May particularly in Cagayan Valley.

PAGASA said the “danger” level heat index could cause heat cramps and exhaustion, and may result in heat stroke.

The weather bureau advised the public to limit outdoor exposure and drink  lots of water.

PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando on Friday declared the start of the Philippine summer with the end of the northeast monsoon.

Servando said the termination of the monsoon season signaled the start of relatively warmer or drier months or summer.