MANILA, Philippines -- Metro Manila sizzled in the summer heat Wednesday as the mercury topped 35.5 degrees Celsius, the hottest day of the year so far.

According to Gener Quitlong of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather forecasting center, the maximum temperature for Wednesday was recorded at 3:30 p.m. at the PAGASA?s Science Garden station in Quezon City.

Quitlong said the 35.5 degrees easily topped Tuesday maximum temperature of 34.4 degrees Celsius.

PAGASA Deputy Administrator for Administration and Operations Nathaniel Cruz said Wednesday?s maximum temperature was easily a degree more than the previous record for hottest day of the year on Feb. 27 when the mercury rose to a dizzying 34.5 degrees.

He also noted that maximum temperatures of 35 degrees were usually felt in April.

?It?s really early to see these numbers in terms of maximum temperatures. Like we have said, these are abnormally warm or warmer than usual conditions,? Cruz said.

He also said they were expecting temperatures topping 34 and 35 degrees until April.

?Then we expect maximum temperatures to range around the 37-degree area by May,? he told the Inquirer.

On the other hand, Cruz said the hot weather had its advantages.

?This is good for tourism as foreigners may come to the country to escape their cold weather,? he said.

Cruz added that the lack of rains may benefit the construction industry and other industries that find rains to their disadvantage.

?Someone benefits from this kind of weather somehow,? he said.

The PAGASA earlier said the unusually warm weather may be caused by the El Niño phenomenon, or the unusual warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific. El Nino conditions cause very warm weather and droughts.