Warmer days ahead are expected as higher temperatures have been usually recorded during the dry season, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. 

In an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Tuesday, March 26, PAGASA Assistant Weather Chief Chris Perez said the “peak” of the dry season may be felt in April or May, as higher records of actual air temperature will prevail. 

“Kapag pumasok na iyong panahon ng tag-init, iyong dry season, iyong panahon ng Marso-Abril-Mayo, ay talagang nakapagtatala tayo ng matataas na antas ng temperatura, that is kung walang bagyo na direktang makakaapekto sa ating bansa (When dry season is officially prevailing, March-April-May season, it is normal to record high temperature, that is if there is no tropical cyclone that might directly affect the country),” Perez said. 

Perez also said PAGASA is not ruling out the possibility for a heat index of 50°C or more, as higher maximum air temperature also results in higher heat indices. 

The heat index is the actual heat being felt or perceived by a human body from a combination of the record of the actual air temperature and the percentage of relative humidity, according to PAGASA. 

For the temperature forecast in April and May, Metro Manila may have an air temperature of 25°C to 37°C, while mountainous regions of Luzon may have 12-30°C, and in huge part of Visayas and Mindanao, an air temperature of 24-38°C may prevail. 

Perez also noted that during the warm dry season, the moisture content in the air also increases resulting to a heat index of 40-42°C for areas with an actual air temperature of 37-38°C. 

“Kapag ganoon, hindi tayo komportable, bukod sa mainit ay maalinsangan, kapag ganitong range ng temperature dapat talaga kung wala tayong gagawin sa labas ng bahay ay manatili lamang po lalong-lalo na sa kasagsagan ng init ng araw that id between 12-3 in the afternoon (In times like that, discomfort is there, as aside from hot weather, it is also humid, that is why with these temperature ranges, avoid going outside when not necessary particularly between 12-3 in the afternoon),” Perez said. 

Perez added that on March 25, an air temperature of 37.8°C was recorded in Tarlac, the highest so far since 2024 has started.