Pagasa: April will be hotter; Dagupan City logs year’s highest heat index yet at 53°C

This file photo shows a woman covering her face under the scorching heat of the sun while walking along the financial district of Makati sCity uburban Manila. (Photo by JOEL NITO / AFP FILE)

MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau on Wednesday warned that April will be hotter as it reported that it recorded this year’s highest heat index so far in Dagupan City in Pangasinan province last week.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Dagupan City’s heat index hit 53 degrees Celsius on March 17. Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina explained that temperatures above 52 degrees Celsius constitute “extreme danger.”

Pagasa also said the heat index in Dagupan City was 50 degrees Celsius at around 2:00 p.m. on March 30.

“Panahon po ito ngayon ng tag-init kaya atin pong binabalaan na mag-ingat lamang po, sapagkat magiging mainit ang panahon at inaasahan natin ngayong Abril lalo pang tataas ang ating temperatura,” said Badrina.

(It is currently hot and dry season so we warn the public to be careful because the weather will be hot and we expect our temperature to rise even more this April.)

“Kaya po uminom ng tubig at iwasang lumabas bandang tanghali hanggang hapon. Magsuot din ng komportableng damit,” he added.

(So drink water and avoid going out from noon until afternoon. Also, wear comfortable clothing.)

Pagasa said Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur registered the third-highest heat index this month at 49 degrees Celsius on March 26, trailed by Virac, Catanduanes and Muñoz Nueva Ecija both at 47 degrees Celsius on March 24 and March 16, respectively.

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