File photo shows a sun-baked stretch of the renowned Alona Beach in Panglao Island, Bohol, a favored tourist destination in the Visayas, especially during the dry season. (INQUIRER/LEO UDTOHAN)
MANILA, Philippines – It will be another hot weekend in many parts of the country, although rain is expected in Eastern Visayas and the Caraga region in Mindanao due to the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Saturday morning.
The heat index or the temperature felt or perceived by the human body, is forecast to exceed 40°C in several cities and municipalities.
Hot! hot! hot!
Pagasa weather specialist Rhea Torres warned of soaring temperatures nationwide, and advised the public to stay hydrated and minimize heat exposure.
“Dahil inaasahan nating maging mainit pa rin yung panahon sa malaking bahagi ng ating bansa ngayong araw, ay patuloy po nating pinapayuhan ‘yung ating mga kababayan na bawasan muna natin yung mga matinding outdoor activities [from] 10 a.m. hanggang alas 4 p.m., dahil yun po yung oras na nakarecord tayo ng matitinding temperatura or maximum temperatures natin,” said Torres.
(Because we expect very hot conditions heat in many parts of the country today, the public should minimize outdoor activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as these are the hours that we record highest or maximum temperatures.)
Pagasa’s latest heat index forecast also predicts that indices exceeding 40°C will continue to hit several parts of the country.
Guiuan, Eastern Samar is forecast to have the highest index of 45°C, followed by Legazpi City (44°C), Masbate City, San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, Puerto Princesa City, Roxas City, Zamboanga City, and Butuan City (43°C) and Sangley Point in Cavite and Virac in Catanduanes (42°C).
Pagasa’s latest heat index forecast, featuring Saturday’s indices under the ‘1-day’ column.
Rain down South
“‘Yung mga panahon natin— lalong lalo na sa eastern section ng Visayas at Mindanao, particularly Eastern Visayas at Caraga area dahil sa posibleng epekto ng ITCZ— asahan po natin na maging maulan ngayong araw sa mga nasabing lugar,” Torres said.
(Rain is expected in Eastern Visayas and the Caraga region due to possible effects of the ITCZ.)
“Samantalang sa nalalabing bahagi naman ng Visayas at Mindanao area, generally fair weather conditions po tayo. At kung may mga pag-ulan ay dulot po ito ng mga localized thunderstorms,” she added.
(The rest of the Visayas and Mindanao will have generally fair weather with possible rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.)
Meantime, no gale warning was raised over any of the country’s seaboards.
Forecast temperature range in key cities / areas on Saturday
Luzon
Metro Manila: 24 to 34 degrees Celsius
Baguio City: 17 to 25 degrees Celsius
Laoag City: 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
Tuguegarao: 25 to 35 degrees Celsius
Legazpi City: 26 to 33 degrees Celsius
Puerto Princesa City: 27 to 33 degrees Celsius
Tagaytay: 23 to 31 degrees Celsius
Kalayaan Islands: 28 to 34 degrees Celsius
Visayas
Iloilo City: 27 to 32 degrees Celsius
Cebu: 27 to 32 degrees Celsius
Tacloban City: 26 to 31 degrees Celsius
Mindanao
Cagayan De Oro City: 26 to 33 degrees Celsius
Zamboanga City: 25 to 34 degrees Celsius
Davao City: 26 to 32 degrees Celsius