Pagasa: Sizzling Metro weekend ahead; heat index at danger level

With summer nearly over, don’t expect the end of hot and humid days in Metro Manila.

On the contrary, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Friday warned Metro Manilans to brace for even hotter weather in the next three days.

The weather bureau said the heat index, also called the human discomfort index, will peak to nearly 41 degrees Celsius during the weekend and on Monday.

The heat index is the actual temperature felt by the body based on air temperature, humidity and surrounding environment.

When the heat index reaches 41 degrees, Pagasa sounds the “danger” alarm and warns that continued activity under the sun may trigger heat-related ailments such as fatigue and even heat stroke.

“[At the] danger [level], heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely. Heat stroke is possible with continued activity,” Pagasa warned.

Pagasa forecast the heat index Saturday reach a maximum 40.6 degrees Celsius (with the lowest heat index at 29.2 degrees).

On Sunday, the forecast maximum heat index is 40.3 degrees (the lowest is 29.8 degrees).

On Monday, May 18, the heat index is expected to peak at 40.1 degrees (with the lowest at 29.4 degrees).

The forecast maximum heat index on Tuesday, May 19, is only slightly lower at 39.9 degrees (the lowest at 29.8 degrees).

The forecast heat level in Metro Manila in the next three days will be slightly higher than those in the Cagayan Valley and Ilocos regions, where the temperature is usually one of the highest throughout the country.

On April 30, Pagasa calculated the heat index in Metro Manila to be between 41 to 43 degrees Celsius.

On April 20, the actual heat index in the capital region also reached 41 degrees.

Since last month, the heat index in Metro Manila usually went up to a maximum of at least 38 degrees up to 39 degrees Celsius.

When the heat index ranges from 32 to 41 degrees, Pagasa advises “extreme caution” saying heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible from prolonged exposure to the sun and that continued activity under the sun could result in heat stroke.

To avoid heat stroke and heat exhaustion, the weather bureau advised staying indoors as much as possible.

Pagasa also advised the wearing of lightweight and light-colored clothes, drinking lots of water, avoiding drinking liquor that dehydrates the body, eating small meals but at more frequent intervals, and avoiding food high in protein since these increases metabolic heat.

Meanwhile due to the prevailing high pressure area over Luzon, the typhoon with the international name Dolphin is no longer expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility.

The typhoon has veered further north so it will likely miss coming close to the country’s boundaries.

“But even if there’s a slim chance it will enter the Philippine area of responsibility, we are monitoring its movements,” said state meteorologist Chris Perez.