PAGASA warns of heat stroke as temperatures rise

April 5 ------ The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) advised the public to protect themselves against heat stroke as five of its monitoring stations recorded maximum air temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius on Sunday. PAGASA said the highest temperatures were registered in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (37.1 degrees Celsius); Camiling, Tarlac (36.5 degrees Celsius); Catbalogan City (36.5 degrees Celsius); Cotabato City (36.5 degrees Celsius), and Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac City (36.0 degrees Celsius).

The 35.6 degrees Celsius air temperature in Metro Manila on Sunday afternoon was slightly lower than other areas but it was so far the highest recorded in the metropolis since the start of the warm and dry “summer” season. Its equivalent heat index is 37 degrees Celsius, or how hot the human body felt the heat. Heat index or the “apparent” temperature is what humans perceive or feel as the temperature affects their body.

It is a combination of air temperature and humidity and higher by at least 2 to 3 degrees Celsius from the actual air temperature reading. With heat indices ranging from 32 to 41 degrees Celsius, PAGASA said “heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible” and “continuing activity could result to heatstroke.” The hot afternoon can be attributed to the prevalence of the warm and humid easterly winds affecting the whole country. This weather system is expected to prevail across the archipelago throughout the week.

It is expected that air temperatures across the country may go higher as the hot and dry season progresses. Likewise, sudden but short-lived rains or thunderstorms, especially in the late afternoon or early evening, will become more prevalent.

Source: mb.com.ph