Heat index could reach 'extreme danger' level of 57°C

PAGASA weather observer Justin Tagoctoc checks a Campbell– Stokes recorder, a solar radiation instrument, which measures the duration and approximate intensity of sunshine, at the state weather bureau’s Science Garden in Quezon City yesterday.

- BELLA CARIASO

The heat index in the Philippines could reach an “extreme danger” level of 57 degrees Celsius after Iba, Zambales on Sunday recorded 53 degrees Celsius, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

The highest extreme danger heat index of 57 degrees Celsius was recorded on April 20, 2020 in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, PAGASA Impact Assessment and Application Section officer-in-charge Meliton Guzman recalled.

Aside from San Jose, the highest heat index recorded was in Dagupan City, Pangasinan on May 9, 2016 at 55 degrees Celsius and in Aparri, Cagayan on May 18, 2021 at 54 degrees Celsius, based on PAGASA's records from 2010 to 2023.

In Metro Manila, the heat index could reach 48 degrees Celsius after 45 degrees Celsius was recorded on April 27, Guzman said.