Pagasa: ‘Extreme danger’ heat levels still to come

HEAT BUSTERS Portable electric fans sell from P150 to P250 in Alabang, Muntinlupa, as people look for different ways to cool off. The weather bureau, however, warns of hotter days ahead. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Heat indices in the country will soon hit levels of “extreme danger” in the coming days and next month, as temperatures continue to rise at the height of the summer season, on top of the lingering effects of the El Niño phenomenon, a Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) official warned on Thursday.

Ana Liza Solis, officer in charge of Pagasa’s Climatology and Agrometeorology Division, said in a television interview that the heat index in some parts of the country was projected to reach 52 degrees Celsius when summer peaked next month.

READ: Roxas City, Capiz logs highest heat index on Thursday at 45°C

“Based on Pagasa’s ongoing monitoring of the discomfort index or heat index, there is a possibility that some areas in the country will experience levels of extreme danger, which is 52 degrees or higher,” she said.

“With this heat level, heatstroke is imminent or probable [for] people who are directly exposed to sunlight, which is why we need to take precautions,” she added.

Maximum temperatures

According to Solis, up to 17 provinces have posted high heat indices in the past two days, while some areas have already hit the maximum daytime temperatures projected by Pagasa for this year.

“[We] predicted before the onset of the dry season that this could be one of the warmest dry season months. This is what we are actually experiencing now, which is also caused by El Niño,” she said.

READ: Heat index at ‘danger’ levels seen to hit 18 areas on April 18

She pointed to some areas in Isabela province, including Echague town, with registered temperatures of up to 40 C. Metro Manila has also reported record-high daytime temperatures of 36.9 C.

“It can be observed that the areas that have posted high temperatures are coastal areas, while cities like Metro Manila are also registering high heat levels due to [the] ‘urban heat island effect,’” Solis said.

Many parts of the country, however, would experience hotter days next month, she warned.

“By May, we can expect higher temperatures in Cagayan Valley—especially Cagayan and Isabela provinces—Ilocos Region, Central Luzon and the neighboring provinces of Metro Manila—the coastal areas of Batangas and Cavite,” she said.

As of Thursday morning, seven of the nine major dams being monitored by Pagasa continue to lose water due to the combined effects of rising heat and the lack of rain caused by El Niño. All nine dams are below their normal high water levels (NHWL).

Dam levels still dipping

The water level of Angat Dam, a critical reservoir that supplies much of Metro Manila’s water needs, has dropped by 0.37 meters, putting the reservoir at 192.92 m, well below its NHWL of 212 m.

Ipo Dam, fed by the Angat reservoir, has also declined its water level by 0.05 m, reaching 99.73 m, below its NHWL of 101 m.

La Mesa Dam, another important water source for Metro Manila, has lost 0.01 m, with its reservoir level now at 75.67 m compared to its NHWL of 80.15 m.

Other dams have also been impacted, with Ambuklao Dam losing 0.02 m and the San Roque Dam shedding 0.26 m. Pantabangan Dam lost 0.07 m, while Caliraya Dam saw a 0.26-m decline.

On the other hand, Binga Dam gained 0.06 m and Magat Dam increased by 0.04 m, though both remain below their respective NHWLs.