Get ready to face hotter days ahead as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration will most likely declare the termination of the northeast monsoon or “amihan” season this week.
PAGASA weather observer Mel Duque said the agency’s Science Garden Station in Quezon City recorded the highest air temperature of 34.8 degrees Celsius at around 3 p.m. yesterday.
This is equivalent to a heat index of 37 degrees Celsius, said PAGASA weather forecaster Lester Sia.
PAGASA defines heat index as the apparent temperature or what humans feel as the air temperature affects the body.
It is higher than air temperature by at least two to three degrees Celsius depending on the amount of humidity present in the atmosphere.
However, yesterday’s air temperature is still lower than the highest temperature reading so far this year of 35.3 degrees Celsius last March 24. Sia said this is equivalent to a heat index of 38 degrees Celsius.
Just before the summer weather is expected to arrive in the country, temperatures in most parts of the country have been increasing in the past few days.
Sia said PAGASA will likely declare the onset of summer season this week “but as to the exact date, we do not know yet.”
The northeast monsoon is still prevailing today over the tip of Northern Luzon, PAGASA said. On the other hand, the warm and humid easterly winds are affecting the eastern section of the country, it added.
Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Davao, and Central and Eastern Visayas. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)