Heat indices in eight areas reach 'danger' level on May 5
The observed heat indices in eight locations remained in the "danger" category, according to the monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, May 5.
The areas with the highest heat indices observed on Friday were Butuan City, Agusan del Norte (45°C); San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (44°C); Aparri, Cagayan (43°C); Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte (43°C); Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur (43°C); Iba, Zambales (42°C); Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (42°C); and Legazpi City, Albay (42°C).
PAGASA defines the heat index as the measurement of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.
It said heat indices between 42°C and 51°C carry impending “danger” as “heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely” and “heat stroke is probable with continued activity.”
Based on PAGASA’s data, the highest heat index recorded since March 1, 2023, was 49℃ on April 16 in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said Palawan will continue to experience scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to a low pressure area (LPA).
The LPA was about 75 kilometers west-northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan as of 3 p.m. on Friday.
Meanwhile, the rest of the country will continue to experience partly cloudy to cloudy weather with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the easterlies and intertropical convergence zone.