PAGASA warns of dangerous heat index in 38 areas

PARCHED. A man walks on dried grass at the University of the Philippines Sunken Garden in Diliman, Quezon City on April 24, 2024. The city’s heat index as measured from the Science Garden of the weather bureau PAGASA will average 43°C on Thursday (April 25, 2024). (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned of dangerous heat index levels in 38 areas across the country on Thursday.

Based on the weather bureau’s 5 p.

m. forecast on Wednesday, the following areas may have a heat index ranging from 42°C to 47°C on Thursday:

NAIA Pasay City, Metro Manila – 45°C
Science Garden, Quezon City, Metro Manila – 43°C
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte – 42°C
Dagupan City, Pangasinan – 46°C
Bacnotan, La Union – 43°C
Aparri, Cagayan – 43°C
Tuguegarao, Cagayan – 44°C
ISU, Echague, Isabela – 43°C
Iba, Zambales – 43°C
Clark Airport, Pampanga – 43°C
CLSU Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – 44°C
Baler (Radar), Aurora – 43°C
Casiguran, Aurora  – 42°C
Cubi Pt. Subic Bay Olongapo City – 45°C
Tayabas, Quezon – 42°C
Sangley Point, Cavite – 47°C
Ambulong, Tanauan, Batangas – 44°C
Infanta, Quezon – 42°C
Alabat, Quezon – 42°C
Mulanay, Quezon – 43°C
Calapan, Oriental Mindoro – 43°C
Coron, Palawan – 42°C
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro – 45°C
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan – 44°C
Aborlan, Palawan – 45°C
Legazpi City. Albay – 44°C
Virac (Synop), Catanduanes – 44°C
Masbate City, Masbate – 42°C
CBSUA-Pili, Camarines Sur – 43°C
Roxas City Capiz – 45°C
Iloilo City, Iloilo – 43°C
Dumangas, Iloilo – 43°C
Catarman, Northern Samar – 43°C
Tacloban City, Leyte – 42°C
Guiuan, Eastern Samar – 42°C
Zamboanga City, Zamboanga – 43°C
Davao City, Davao del Sur – 42°C
General Santos City, South Cotabato – 42°C

PAGASA said heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature.

The weather bureau advised the public to limit the time spent outdoors, especially at noon, and drink plenty of water.

People going outdoors are reminded to use umbrellas or wear hats and sleeved clothing.

Meanwhile, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting southern Mindanao will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the easterlies and localized thunderstorms.

The whole archipelago will have light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas.