All three Metro Manila monitoring stations recorded a heat index of 42 degrees Celsius (°C) on Wednesday afternoon, May 17, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
PAGASA recorded the 42°C heat index at its monitoring stations in Science Garden, Quezon City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Pasay City around 1 p.m. and in Port Area, Manila around 2 p.m.
According to PAGASA, a heat index ranging from 42°C to 51°C indicates impending “danger,” as “heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely,” and “heat stroke is probable with continued activity.”
The heat index is the measurement of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.
(PAGASA)
Thirty-one other monitoring stations also recorded “dangerous” heat indices on Wednesday.
These were:
Catarman, Northern Samar (46°C)
Ambulong, Tanauan, Batangas (45°C)
Baler, Aurora (45°C)
Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro (45°C)
Juban, Sorsogon (45°C)
Roxas City, Capiz (45°C)
Borongan, Eastern Samar (44°C)
Catbalogan, Western Samar (44°C)
Dagupan City, Pangasinan (44°C)
Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte (44°C)
Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur (44°C)
Iba, Zambales (44°C)
Maasin, Southern Leyte (44°C)
Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur (44°C)
Alabat, Quezon (43°C)
Aparri, Cagayan (43°C)
Butuan City, Agusan del Norte (43°C)
Daet, Camarines Norte (43°C)
Dauis, Bohol (43°C)
Guiuan, Eastern Samar(43°C)
Legazpi City, Albay(43°C)
Mactan International Airport, Cebu (43°C)
Masbate City, Masbate (43°C)
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (43°C)
Surigao City, Surigao del Norte (43°C)
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan (43°C)
Casiguran, Aurora (42°C)
Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental (42°C)
Sangley Point, Cavite (42°C)
Tacloban City, Leyte (42°C)
Virac, Catanduanes (42°C)
PAGASA recorded the highest heat index in the country so far this year on May 12 in Legazpi City, Albay at 50°C.