Amidst the intense noontime heat, a Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) official said that the northeast monsoon will continue to bring cold weather to Luzon.

Last Thursday, the heat index reached 36°C in Tuguegarao City, while in Zamboanga City, it soared to 46°C around 3 p.m.

PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando said that the sunny weather and high relative humidity resulted in a high heat index.

The heat index is the temperature that a human feels and is usually computed by adding air temperature and relative humidity.

“I think not, because the northeast monsoon (hanging amihan) is expected to surge until the middle of March, and usually in the whole of February, it’s still cold,” Servando said.

He added that there is a possibility of another surge of the northeast monsoon.

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chenel Dominguez said that at least three weather systems are currently affecting the Philippines.

“The axis of the shear line moved northward, that’s why it is affecting Extreme Northern Luzon,” Dominguez said as he noted that the northeast monsoon has no effect on any part of the country.

The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affects Mindanao, while the easterlies, warm air from the Pacific, affect Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

The state weather bureau also spotted a low-pressure area northwest of Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan. However, Dominguez stated that it does not directly affect the country and has a low chance of developing into a tropical depression.