MANILA — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) recorded on Sunday the highest temperature in country so far for this year.
In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Gener Quitlong said Tuguegarao, Cagayan experienced its hottest temperature when temperature sizzled to 40.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
The latest reading surpassed the previous high of 39.8 degrees Celsius recorded last May 22 also in Tuguegarao.
However, Quitlong said the hottest temperature ever recorded in the country was in Tuguegarao, Cagayan at 42.2 degrees Celsius on May 11, 1969.
He said that due to ridge of high pressure area (HPA) will bring high temperatures and good weather conditions to the country in the coming days as he advised people to wear lightweight and light-colored clothing, and drink plenty of water.
He said residents of places directly hit by the heat of the sun, without trees, and surrounded by concrete roads would feel much hotter.
He said that other parts of Luzon including Metro Manila may experience hotter days due to a ridge of high-pressure area (HPA) would be the dominant weather system in the country resulting in more humid weather.
HPA is the opposite of the low-pressure area – a weather system consisting of warm air circulating over the Pacific Ocean.
He also credited the hot temperatures to the penetration of the direct heat of the sunlight into the earth’s surface, and cloudless sky in the past days.
To avoid heat exhaustion, people should stay indoors as much as possible, according to a PAGASA advisory.
People are also advised to wear clothing made of light materials with light colors, to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and to avoid eating food high in protein, which can increase body heat.
Despite a warmer weather, he said the occurrence of isolated rains will still prevail due to localized thunderstorms expect mostly in the afternoon or evening.
Meanwhile, Quitlong said that Metro Manila experienced humid weather with temperature recorded at 35.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday afternoon.
But the highest temperature recorded in Metro Manila so far for this year was at 36.7 degrees Celsius on last May 24.
Based on the PAGASA’s climatological record, the hottest temperature in Metro Manila was recorded on May 14, 1987 at 38.5 degrees Celsius.