PAGASA suspends heat index issuance until March 2025

The state weather bureau PAGASA discontinued the daily publication of heat index data starting on Tuesday.

In a statement on Tuesday, PAGASA said the decision stemmed from the continuous decline in the number of areas with heat indexes at the danger level, frequent rain showers and thunderstorms in many areas of the country, and the end of the El Niño phenonemon.

“During this period, it is important to focus on providing accurate and timely information related to hazards and potential impacts associated with the rainy season,” the statement read.

The daily heat index reports, which come from PAGASA's synoptic stations, will resume on March 1, 2025, in time for the dry season in the country. 

Meanwhile, heat indexes gathered by automated weather stations would remain accessible on the PAGASA website, ''which could help assess areas that might still be experiencing hot weather conditions,'' it said.

The highest heat index during the 2024 dry season was 55ºC, which was registered in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, on May 26.

PAGASA officially declared the start of the wet season on May 29.  — VBL, GMA Integrated News