Government meteorologists warned that the summer heat could rise to 39.8 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country by the end of April — beginning of May. According to the latest forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the maximum daily temperature could reach 39.6-39.8°C, especially in the northern part of Luzon.
"Hopefully, at this moment we are still not predicting a possible maximum daily temperature of 40 degrees Celsius," said the head of the monitoring and forecasting department of PAGASA, Ana Lisa Solis, at a briefing in Malacañang on March 10.
In April, the temperature in Manila could rise to 37.6°C, while in the lowlands of Mindanao — to 37.7°C, according to PAGASA's forecast. The heat index, or "feels-like temperature," could also rise to potentially dangerous 50°C at the peak of the warm season in April and May.
"Last year was marked by 52 degrees Celcius, and such a high 'feels-like' temperature is possible, but only momentarily and not everywhere," added Solis. For instance, Dagupan City on the island of Pangasinan has already recorded the highest heat index at 45°C on March 6.
PAGASA plans to officially declare the start of the warm season around mid-March, as the northeast monsoon (amihan), bringing cooler weather, continues to weaken. Solis stated that while the temperature this year may not reach such extremes as last year, it remains a concern, especially in light of the prolonged effects of the recent strong El Niño phenomenon.