The scorching heat reached a “dangerous” level in 39 areas on Friday, April 26, with Dagupan City, Pangasinan registering the highest heat index of the day at 48 degrees Celsius (°C), said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The heat index measures how hot it feels when relative humidity is combined with the actual air temperature.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/18/heat-index-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-differ-from-actual-temperature
Apart from Dagupan City, the following areas recorded dangerously high heat index values on Friday: Aparri, Cagayan (46°C); Pili, Camarines Sur (46°C); Guiuan, Eastern Samar (46°C); Sinait, Ilocos Sur (45°C); Bacnotan, La Union (45°C); Virac, Catanduanes (45°C); Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (44°C); Tuguegarao City, Cagayan (44°C); Aborlan, Palawan (44°C); Roxas City, Capiz (44°C); Catbalogan, Samar (44°C); Pasay City, Metro Manila (43°C); Iba, Zambales (43°C); Clark Airport, Pampanga (43°C); Baler, Aurora (43°C); Casiguran, Aurora (43°C); Cubi Pt. Subic Bay, Olongapo City (43°C); Sangley Point, Cavite (43°C); Ambulong, Tanauan, Batangas (43°C); San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (43°C); Legazpi City, Albay (43°C); Masbate City, Masbate (43°C); Juban, Sorsogon (43°C); Dumangas, Iloilo (43°C); Tacloban City, Leyte (43°C); Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur (43°C); Cotabato City, Maguindanao (43°C); Butuan City, Agusan del Norte (43°C); Science Garden, Quezon City, Metro Manila (42°C); Batac, Ilocos Norte (42°C); Echague, Isabela (42°C); Tayabas City, Quezon (42°C); Coron, Palawan (42°C); Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (42°C); Daet, Camarines Norte (42°C); Iloilo City, Iloilo (42°C); La Granja, La Carlota, Negros Occidental (42°C); and Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte (42°C).
PAGASA said heat indices ranging from 42°C to 51°C indicate “danger,” as “heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely," and "heat stroke is probable with continued activity.”
Meanwhile, a heat index above 52°C indicates “extreme danger” as “heat stroke is imminent.”
PAGASA warned that this weekend’s heat index could again reach 48°C, particularly in Dagupan City.