Is there already a heat wave in the Philippines? PAGASA answers

As the temperature continues to rise and with heat index reaching dangerous levels in many areas, many Filipinos are asking: Is there already a heat wave in the Philippines?

In an interview on Dobol B TV on Friday, Joey Figuracion of state weather bureau PAGASA explained when a persistent hot weather could be considered a heat wave.

According to Figuracion, heat wave happens when the temperature exceeds the average maximum temperature by 5°C for three to five consecutive days.

“Sa atin po sa Pilipinas dahil nasa tropics po tayo, usually tinitignan natin 'yung progression ng pag-depart from the normal,” he said.

(For us in the Philippines, because we are in the tropics, we usually look at the progression of departure from the normal.)

“Ano ba yung normal natin? Halimbawa, kung may temperature na 25°C, yun yung normal natin, or 30°C sabihin natin. Now kung lumagpas ng about 5°C doon sa ating maximum temperature in three to five consecutive days, so ibig sabihin nandoon na tayo sa ganung ano, na meron tayong heat wave na nararanasan,” he added.

(What is normal for us? For example, if there is a temperature of 25°C, that is our normal, or let's say 30°C. Now if our maximum temperature exceeds about 5°C for three to five consecutive days, that means we are already experiencing heat wave.)

So far, Figuracion said that there was no heat wave in the country despite the worsening hot weather.

“Sa ngayon po, wala pa naman po tayong [namo-monitor] na ganiyan. Although, during this time of the year talaga dahil tag-init talaga itong season na ito dito talaga natin nararanasan yung medyo maalinsangan at mainit o matataas na temperatura,” he said.

(Right now, we don't have anything like that. Although this is really the time of the year when we really experience humid and hot or high temperatures.)

In Metro Manila, Figuracion said the average temperature is around 34 to 35°C. The recent temperature recorded in PAGASA Science Garden, Quezon City was around 37.8°C.

Figuracion noted that these temperatures are different from the heat index.

Heat index is the measure of the temperature that a person feels and is computed by factoring in the humidity and the air temperature.

For Friday, PAGASA said 33 areas in the country are expected to experience “danger level” heat index of up to 47°C.

Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely in areas experiencing a danger level heat index, which is from 42 to 51°C. Heat stroke is also possible with continued exposure.

Due to this, face-to-face classes have been suspended in several areas in the country.

Private hospitals are also bracing for the influx of patients suffering from heat-related illnesses as the heat index in some parts of the country continues to rise to dangerous levels. —KBK, GMA Integrated News