Dagupan City in Pangasinan recorded the highest heat index in the country so far this year at a scorching 51 degrees Celsius (ºC) on Saturday afternoon, May 8, according to the state weather bureau.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the record-high heat index value was recorded at around 2 p.m.
The previous highest heat index value in the country this year was recorded in Dagupan City on April 6 at 49 degrees Celsius, the agency said.
Moreover, 11 other weather monitoring stations across the country recorded “dangerously” high heat index values on Saturday, ranging between 41 to 44 degrees Celsius.
Ambulong, Batangas (44°C)
Cotabato City, Maguindanao (44°C)
NAIA Pasay City, Metro Manila (44°C)
Sangley Point, Cavite (44°C)
Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte (43°C)
Butuan City, Agusan del Norte (42°C)
Clark Airport, Pampanga (42°C)
Davao City, Davao del Sur (41°C)
Iba, Zambales (41°C)
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (41°C)
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (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.
A heat index between 41℃ and 54℃ is under what the PAGASA considers as “danger” level due to the high likelihood of heat cramps and heat exhaustion.