THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said this year’s warm or dry season may have already reached its peak, with the province of Tarlac registering the hottest temperature at 40.3 degrees last April 27.
“Hopefully, we’ve already attained the hottest temperature during the dry season months,” PAGASA Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section chief Ana Solis said during a radio interview.
On Tarlac’s extremely high temperature, Solis said: “Hopefully that’s the hottest or maximum daytime temperature for this year.”
Historically, Solis said the country experiences the hottest temperature during the second half of April.
“So we’re saying that hopefully, now that we are already in the first half of May, we’ll no longer experience that (hottest period),” said Solis.
She said the extremely hot weather can be attributed to El Niño, a weather phenomenon that increases the likelihood of dry spells and droughts due to below-normal rainfall conditions.
Solis said the country can expect lower temperatures in the coming months with the possible onset of La Niña, a climate pattern that characterizes above average rains.
She said there is a 60 percent chance that the wet season will start during the June-July-August period.
“This means that April, May and June is the ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) neutral (neither El Niño nor La Niña) condition,” said Solis, adding: “It means our El Niño peaked in March and April.”
Solis said that while the country is expected to experience lower heat index in the coming months, 37 areas will still feel dangerous heat index today, including Quezon City and Pasay City which are forecast to have a heat index of 43 and 42 degrees, respectively.
Dagupan City in Pangasinan is expected to have the highest index among the list, with 46 degrees.
It is followed by Clark in Pampanga, Cuyo town in Palawan, and Virac town in Catanduanes which are forecast to have a heat index of 45 degrees.
PAGASA has classified a heat index ranging from 42 to 51 degrees as dangerous, where residents are likely to experience heat cramps and heat exhaustion and heat stroke is possible.
In a related development, the Pasig city government said it will continue to observe the earlier work shift of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the next two months to mitigate the adverse effect of the high heat index to the health of its employees.
Mayor Vico Sotto said the modified work schedule seeks to protect employees from being exposed to the hottest hours of the day.
“Right now, we see more advantage in leaving for work earlier as we can avoid traffic as well as the heat from the sun,” Sotto said.
The earlier work schedule is in accordance with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Resolution No. 24-08, series of 2024, which was approved to be implemented in the city of Pasig through Executive Order PCG. No. 12, series 2024. — With Christian Oineza
