MANILA, Philippines — As the state weather bureau warned that the heat index in several parts of the country would remain over 40°C, and the municipality of Aparri in Cagayan registered the highest computed heat index on May 1 at 44°C, recorded at 2 p.m.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) classifies heat index between 42ºC and 51ºC as a “danger category.”
According to Pagasa, heat index refers to a measure of the contribution that high humidity makes with abnormally high temperatures in reducing the body’s ability to cool itself.
Apart from Aparri, Pagasa also recorded similar numbers in several areas:
- Catarman, Northern Samar: 44°C
- Catbalogan, Western Samar: 44°C
- Clark Airport, Pampanga: 42°C
- Dagupan City, Pangasinan: 44°C
- Iba, Zambales: 42°C
- Laoag City, Ilocos Norte: 44°C
- Legazpi City, Albay: 43°C
- Maasin, Southern Leyte: 42°C
- Masbate City, Masbate: 43°C
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Pasay City: 43°C
- Tacloban City, Leyte: 43°C
- Tuguegarao City, Cagayan: 42°C
- Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur: 42°C
Meanwhile, the highest heat index recorded so far this year remains in Guiuan, Eastern Samar which reached 49°C on April 16.