Tacloban City registers 42℃ heat index on March 28
Published Mar 28, 2023 12:45 pm
Tacloban City in the province of Leyte registered the highest heat index on Tuesday, March 28, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA defines the heat index as the measurement of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.
Based on its monitoring on Tuesday, PAGASA recorded the top five highest heat indexes throughout the day in the following areas: Tacloban City, Leyte (42 degrees Celsius); Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte (40℃); NAIA, Pasay City (40℃); Virac, Catanduanes (40℃); and Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur (40℃).
The highest heat index recorded this month was 47℃ in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, on March 25.
PAGASA said heat indexes between 41°C and 51°C carry impending “danger” as “heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely” and “heat stroke is probable with continued activity.”
Meanwhile, residents are advised to observe “extreme caution” when heat indexes reach 32°C to 41°C, as “heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible” and “continuing activity could result in heatstroke.”
Heat index is at least 3°C to 4°C higher than the actual air temperature, but PAGASA said that full exposure to sunshine can increase the heat index by 8°C.