CEBU, Philippines — Cebu province has started to register high temperatures but the urban areas may experience warmer temperature, said an official from Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Alfredo Quiblat, Jr., PAGASA-Cebu officer-in-charge, said in cities like Cebu with several buildings and pavements, the heat index, or how the air temperature feels to the body, may increase to 41 degrees Celsius.
Quiblat attributed this phenomenon to what is called as the “heat island effect.”
He explained that urban areas may experience warmer temperatures than the actual because asphalt and concrete surfaces of roads, buildings, and other structures absorb the sun's heat causing the temperature to rise.
Quiblat said the highest air temperature so far this month in Cebu was recorded last 10th of April.
This was the day PAGASA marked the onset of the hot dry season or what is fondly called as "summer."
In Cebu, the average air temperature for April, which is the driest month for the year, is 28.8 degrees Celsius based on the historical record of PAGSASA local station.
But on April 10, air temperature peaked at 32.4 degrees Celsius at 1:42 p.m., said Quiblat. The next day it reached its height of 31.6 degrees Celsius while yesterday climaxed at 32.1 degrees Celsius.
Quiblat said a temperature of 32.4 degrees Celsius has an equivalent heat index of 38 degrees Celsius.
Quiblat explained that there is no summer season in the Philippines since it only experiences the rainy and dry seasons; the latter is subdivided into two - the cool dry season from November to February; and the hot dry season from March to May.
However, the "summery" feel is popular in the country during the dry season because it has been the best time for tourists to travel around the islands.
Quiblat said the end of the Northeast Monsoon, locally called as “Amihan,” signals the start of the hot dry season.
PAGASA has observed that there has been a shift of wind pattern from Northeasterly to Easterly signifying the termination of the Northeast Monsoon.
Quiblat said the easterly winds that originate from the Pacific Ocean bring warm and moist air to the Philippines.
He said this event is also one of the factors that air temperature in the country changes and becomes hotter.
Recently, PAGASA’s monitoring showed that there has been a gradual increase in the daily temperature recorded in most parts of the country.
Quiblat warned the public that weather in the coming days may become drier and warmer leading to May, which is considered as the hottest month in a year.
He said the easterlies and the ridge of High Pressure Area, a weather system associated as “good weather,” may dominate across the country.
He, however, said a dry season does not entirely mean that the entire month will experience dry days. He said there may be isolated rains or localized thunderstorm that may occur mostly in the afternoon or evening.
Dr. Shelbay Blanco from the Department of Health in Central Visayas noted that a normal body temperature only ranges from 36.5 to 37.5 degrees Celsius.
Warmer temperatures, or prolonged exposure to the sun’s heat, may lead to illnesses or other ailments like heat stroke or sunburn.
People are advised to stay indoors as much as possible and are discouraged from staying long outdoors particularly from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Health officers also advised the public to wear light colored clothing since these reflect the sun's energy and must drink plenty of water regularly as the body needs water to keep cool while drinking liquor must be avoided as it may dehydrate the body.
People are also warned from eating foods high in protein as it may increase metabolic heat. —/MBG (FREEMAN)