Brace for hot, humid weekend
Hot and humid weather will prevail over most parts of the country this weekend due to the ridge of high pressure area (HPA) and easterlies, the state weather bureau said on Friday.
Weather specialist Ariel Rojas of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the ridge of the HPA extends over Northern Luzon while the easterlies of warm winds from the Pacific Ocean continue to affect the rest of the country.
Rojas said most parts of the archipelago, especially areas in northern and central Luzon may experience isolated rain showers from afternoon to evening due to localized thunderstorms.
He added that based on the bureau’s monitoring, no weather disturbance may develop or affect the country in the next three to five days.
A scorching 52 degrees Celsius (°C) was recorded by PAGASA in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte on Thursday.
According to PAGASA, heat index refers to the actual feel of temperature, as opposed to the temperature measured by a thermometer. The high air temperatures and high relative humidity are the factors considered in heat index which give high apparent temperatures or indices.
In Metro Manila, dangerous levels of temperature were noted at PAGASA’s NAIA Station in Pasay City with 45 °C and 42 °C in Port Area, Manila and Science Garden, Quezon City.
Dangerous levels of heat index were also monitored in CLSU Munoz, Nueva Ecija, and Dagupan City, Pangasinan both at 47°C; Sangley Point, Cavite at 46 °C; Ambulong, Batangas; Casiguran, Aurora; Davao City, Davao Del Sur; Roxas City, Capiz; and Tugueagarao City, Cagayan at 45 °C; Catbalogan, Western Samar; Clark, Pampanga; and Masbate City, Masbate at 44 °C; Aparri, Cagayan at 43 °C; Cotabato City, Maguindanao; Daet, Camarines Norte; Dipolog Zamboanga Del Norte; Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; and Legazpi City, Albay at 42 °C; Cubi Pt., Subic Bay, Olongapo City; El Salavador City, Misamis Oriental; Hinatuan, Surigao Del Norte; Iba, Zambales; Sinait, Ilocos Sur; and Tayabas, Quezon at 41 °C.