Smoldering: Occidental Mindoro town’s temperature hits 50 °C
MANILA, Philippines — Mercury’s rising in a town of Occidental Mindoro as it beat its own heat index record, hitting 50 degrees Celsius on Friday.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the latest documented heat index at San Jose town appears to be the highest for 2020.
On Thursday, San Jose sizzled at 48.1 degrees Celsius, also the hottest in the Philippines that day.
Pagasa said that other towns with heat indices over 40 degrees Celsius on Friday include Dagupan, Pangasinan (46 degrees Celsius); Cotabato City, Virac in Catanduanes, Sangley Point in Cavite (44 degrees Celsius); and Borongan in Eastern Samar (44 degrees Celsius).
In Metro Manila, Pagasa said a 39 degrees Celsius heat index was recorded Friday in the Science Garden in Quezon City.
“‘Yong ganito pong katataas na heat index ay nasa danger category na po ‘yan […] iwasan ho muna ang direct exposure sa sunlight, at para sa iwas heat stress tip natin, iwasan po muna ang pag-inom ng kape, tsaa, maging mga softdrinks sa dakong tanghali at hapon,” weather specialist Loriedin De La Cruz said.
(This high level of heat indices are in the danger category, so we should avoid direct exposure to sunlight. To avoid heat stress, we advise that you avoid drinking coffee, tea, and even soft drinks by lunchtime and the afternoon.)
On the other hand, the state weather bureau said rain showers may be possible in the extreme Northern Luzon area on Saturday due to the northeasterly surface wind flow, which brings clouds in the area. The rest of the country will experience hot and humid weather due to the easterlies on the dame day, it added.
Pagasa also noted that no storms or low-pressure areas have been spotted inside or near the Philippine area of responsibility. However, thunderstorms may occur in the afternoon and during the night due to the accumulated heat throughout the day.
Temperature for Saturday may reach 35 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila and Tuguegarao, while highs of 32 to 33 degrees Celsius may be felt in Visayan towns of Iloilo, Cebu, and Tacloban, and 35 to 36 degrees Celsius in Davao and Zamboanga, according to Pagasa.
Meanwhile, a gale warning is still raised over the northern Luzon and Ilocos Norte seaboards, which means fisherfolk with small boats cannot set sail as sea conditions would be rough. Luzon’s eastern and western seas would be moderate to rough while the rest would experience light to moderate sea conditions, Pagasa said.
