Air temperatures for the past days have started to soar as the warm and humid easterly winds continue to linger over the country.
The following monitoring stations on Tuesday, May 4, recorded the highest air temperatures, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (37.7 degrees Celsius)
Subic, Zambales (36.8°C)
Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur (35.9°C)
Science Garden, Quezon City (35.2°C)
Cotabato City, Maguindanao (35.2°C)
Clark, Pampanga (35.2°C)
NAIA, Pasay City (35.1°C)
Muñoz, Nueva Ecija (35.1°C)
Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte (34.6°C)
Butuan City, Agusan del Norte (34.6°C)
The highest recorded air temperature in the Philippines was 42.2 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao, Cagayan on May 11, 1969.
Meanwhile, the highest recorded air temperature in Metro Manila was 38.5 degrees Celsius on May 14, 1987.
Meanwhile, the following stations have recorded the highest heat index values:
Dagupan City, Pangasinan (45°C)
Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte (45°C)
Sangley Pt., Cavite (45°C)
Aparri, Cagayan (42°C)
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (42°C)
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (42°C)
Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur (42°C)
Clark Airport, Pampanga (41°C)
Cuyo, Palawan (41°C)
NAIA, Pasay City (41°C)
PAGASA defines heat index as a human discomfort index that gives the "apparent" temperature or what a human perceives or feels as the temperature affects the body.
It is at least three to four degrees Celsius higher than the actual air temperature.
The highest heat index so far in 2021 was recorded in Dagupan City, Pangasinan on April 6 at 49 degrees Celsius.
The warm and humid weather across most parts of the country could be attributed to the prevailing easterly winds originating from the Pacific Ocean.