PAGASA: PH to have even hotter days ahead until mid-May

Brace yourself for even hotter days ahead.

Weather bureau PAGASA said Wednesday the hot temperatures are expected to be felt until mid-May.

PAGASA has reported heat indexes breaching 40 degrees Celsius in various places in the country such as the Camarines Provinces, Palawan, Cavite City, and Zamboanga City which have experienced 42-43 degrees Celsius heat indexes.

Dagupan City is projected to record a 44ºC heat index today.

PAGASA Weather Specialist Benison Estareja told GMA Integrated News that Metro Manila may record 40-41°C heat index tomorrow.

“Hanggang sa kalagitnaan ng Mayo 'yung halos similar scenarios. So we’re seeing a few weeks pa na magkakaroon ng ganitong mainit na panahon, maalinsangan lalo na sa tanghali in many areas lalo na sa mga highly urbanized areas. Kabilang na riyan ang Metro Manila,” Estareja said.

(Almost similar scenarios will be felt until mid-May. So we're seeing a few weeks more of hot days, with humidity peaking especially during noontime in many areas, especially in highly urbanized areas. This includes Metro Manila.)

“Kung pagbabasehan natin 'yung climatological normal, 'yung ating heat index, by the end of April, possible pa ring maglaro between 42 hanggang 48 [degrees Celsius]. Posibleng umabot ng 48 [degrees Celsius] sa ilang areas. Nangyari na rin ito noong nagdaang taon. And then pagsapit ng Mayo, may mga lugar na naglalaro between 48 hanggang 51 degrees Celsius ng ating heat index,” he added.

(If we base it on climatological normal, our heat index, by the end of April, may possibly be between 42 to 48 [degrees Celsius]. Some areas' heat index may even possibly reach 48 [degrees Celsius]. This already happened in past years. And then in May, some areas will experience heat index ranging from 48 to 51 degrees Celsius.)

Estareja said that last year, San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, Legazpi City in Albay, Virac in Catanduanes, Dagupan City, and Tuguegarao City recorded high heat indexes.

He added that towards the latter part of May, “Mainit pa rin naman but then nandiyan na rin 'yung tsansa ng mga localized thunderstorms pagsapit ng hapon. So somehow nababawasan naman 'yung init.”

(It will still be hot [in the latter part of May] but then there would be localized thunderstorms in the afternoons. Somehow, the heat index will be lessened.)

PAGASA defines heat index as the measure of the temperature that a person feels, which is different from the actual air temperature. It is computed by factoring in the humidity as well as air temperature.

In areas experiencing dangerous level heat index, which is from 42°C to 51°C, heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely, according to PAGASA. Heat stroke is also possible with continued exposure.

Symptoms of heat-related illnesses include sweating heavily, exhaustion or fatigue, dizziness or lightheadedness, blacking out or feeling dizzy when standing, weak but fast pulses, feeling of nausea, and vomiting.

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier gave reminders on how to avoid heat stroke, especially in areas where there is a dangerous level of heat index.

These include drinking lots of water, refraining from leaving the house at noontime and doing so only in the morning or in the afternoon, and wearing light and loose clothing.

In its health advisory, DOH reminded the following first-aid tips should a person suffer from heat stroke: 

• transfer the person to a cooler or shady area;
• remove clothes that could add up to body heat;
• apply cold compress on the underarm, groin, neck, and back; and
• soak the person in cold water, if possible.

—KG, GMA Integrated News