Heat index soars to ‘dangerous’ level of 42 degrees Celsius in Quezon City
MANILA, Philippines—The heat index on Wednesday soared to 42 degrees Celsius at the Science Garden in Quezon City, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported.
The heat index peaked at around 1:50 p.m., according to Pagasa. Heat indexes of 41 to 54 degrees Celsius are considered “dangerous” and poses health risks such as heat cramps and heat exhaustion, with a heatstroke probable with continued physical activity.
The 42 degrees Celsius was computed from Wednesday’s 35.2 degrees Celsius temperature and 51% relative humidity. The rains brought by thunderstorms however helped lower the temperature.
Despite Tuesday’s temperature being recorded at 35.8 degrees Celsius, which is slightly higher, Wednesday’s heat index reached dangerous levels because of the high percentage of relative humidity, according to Pagasa.
The weather bureau explained that the more moisture there is in the air, the slower sweat evaporates, which causes humans bodies to feel warmer.
Pumalo sa 42°C ang heat index sa Science Garden, Quezon City kaninang 1:50 PM (22 Abril, Miyerkules). Bagamat mas mataas nang bahagya ang temperatura kahapon, mas marami naman ang kahalumigmigan (moisture) sa hangin kanina kaya mas maalinsangan ngayong hapon. pic.twitter.com/R0syMh92Zg
— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) April 22, 2020
The heat index is the “apparent temperature or what humans perceive or feel like the temperature affecting the body,” according to Pagasa.
“Pero pinapaalalahanan pa rin ang lahat na dalasan ang pag-inom ng tubig at iwasan ang physical activities sa tanghali at hapon para maiwasan ang heat stress ngayong tag-init,” Pagasa noted.
(But we would like to remind the public to drink more water and reduce physical activities during noon and afternoon to avoid heat stress this summer.)
