By Alexandria San Juan
Easterlies or warm winds coming from the Pacific Ocean continue to prevail over most parts of the country bringing cloudy skies and isolated thunderstorms over Visayas and Mindanao.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its latest weather update that the easterlies will affect (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan)Mimaropa, and the whole Visayas and Mindanao.
It will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the said regions.
Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
Pagasa advised residents affected by the easterlies and localized thunderstorms on possible flash floods during severe thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, heat index in several areas remains in "dangerous" and "extreme caution" levels on Thursday.
The highest heat index in the country was recorded in San Jose City, Occidental Mindoro with the mercury rising to 45.9 degrees Celsius at 2 p.m.
According to Pagasa, heat index is a human discomfort index that gives the "apparent" temperature or what humans perceive or feel as the temperature that affects their body.
High air temperatures and high relative humidity will give high apparent temperatures or indices.
The state weather bureau considered the heat index of 41°C to 54°C as dangerous, meaning heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely, and a heat stroke is probable with continued activity."
Among the areas with dangerous heat index recorded are Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte at 43.9°C; Cotabato City, Maguindanao at 42.5°C; Dipolog, Zamboanga Del Norte at 41.7°C; Sangley Point, Cavite at 41.4°C; Masbate City, Masbate at 41.3°C; Casiguran, Aurora at 41.2°C; Daet Camarines, Norte at 41.2°C; and Tuguegarao City, Cagayan at 41°C.#