Too hot to handle? It's not even dry season yet — PAGASA
PEDESTRIANS use umbrella for shade as they walk under the midday sun in Manila on Tuesday. PAGASA warns that the heat index in Metro Manila and other areas could reach a ‘danger’ level of 42 to 51 degrees Celsius as the peak of the dry season is expected from late March to April.
John Carlo Magallon
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) clarified on Monday that despite the intense heat, the dry season has not yet been officially declared.
At a press conference in Malacañang, PAGASA Climate Monitoring and Prediction Chief Ana Liza Solis stated that a possible surge of the northeast monsoon is expected in the coming week.
"If the northeast monsoon starts to dissipate, we will monitor it to see if we will declare the termination of the northeast monsoon, signaling our transition to our dry and warm season,” Solis said.
She noted that the northeast monsoon is currently affecting Extreme Northern Luzon, while the effects of the shear line may dissipate this week.
Temperatures this year are not expected to reach the extreme levels recorded in 2024, which were largely influenced by a strong El Niño.
Since Friday, 7 March, a heat index of 42°C or higher has been recorded in Aborlan, Palawan; Virac, Catanduanes; and Dagupan, Pangasinan.
Earlier this month, various local government units announced class suspensions in response to the rising heat index.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said that the government has been coordinating with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to assist local farms in preparing for the dry season.
"They are already accustomed to the effects of this condition, so the assistance provided by the DA is mainly focused on information dissemination,” Castro said, adding that other government agencies will step in if needed.