Philippine Weather Authorities Warn of Extreme Danger as Heat Index Projections Approach 52 Degrees Celsius
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, known as Pagasa, has issued a sobering projection for the upcoming dry season, warning that the heat index could surge past 52 degrees Celsius between the last week of February and June 2027.
This extreme threshold enters a zone where there is a potential for extreme danger. Glaiza Esculiar, a Pagasa weather forecaster, explained in a radio interview that the intensified heat stems from the seasonal transition into a hot and humid period. While cooler weather may linger through the Christmas holiday season, Esculiar noted that temperatures will not be cooler than the previous year.
Eleven Areas Record Hazardous Temperatures Reaching 43 Degrees Celsius
The warning arrives as multiple regions across the country already record hazardous temperatures. The heat index in eleven areas hit the danger level on November 1. Automated weather stations registered readings of 42 degrees Celsius or higher in locations such as Bacnotan, La Union; San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; Cuyo, Palawan; Legazpi City, Albay; Negros Island Region partikular sa Siquijor; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Maasin, Southern Leyte; and Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. Higher peaks were logged, with Catarman, Northern Samar, and Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte, hitting 43 degrees Celsius, while Coron, Palawan, reached 44 degrees Celsius.
In Dagupan City, the heat index climbed, recording 41 degrees Celsius from October 29 to 30, 42 degrees Celsius on October 31, and 43 degrees Celsius on November 2. The DMMMSU Bacnotan, La Union, recorded 44 degrees Celsius on November 2, before Dagupan City again touched 43 degrees Celsius at two in the afternoon on November 3, according to PAGASA-Dagupan.
Outdoor Workers Face Immediate Heat Stroke Risks
Chris Perez, Assistant Weather Services Chief at DOST-PAGASA, emphasized that outdoor workers, particularly those in the construction industry, face the most immediate risk. High heat indices accelerate physical fatigue, increase the likelihood of muscle cramps, and elevate the danger of heat stroke during prolonged exposure.
“Para po sa mas kumpletong detalye noong mga lugar na ganito, nasa danger level ang forecast heat index value ay pinapayuhan din natin i-check ang ating official website para po magawa nila or maplano nila iyong kanilang outdoor activity nang maayos at maiwasan nga iyong mga peligro ng sobrang init ng temperatura sa inyong lugar,” stated Chris Perez, Assistant Weather Services Chief, DOST-PAGASA.
In Iloilo City, where a forecasted heat index reached 43 degrees Celsius, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office advised residents to restrict outdoor exposure between ten in the morning and four in the afternoon. Responding to the conditions, several academic institutions—including Central Philippine University, West Visayas State University, and Iloilo Science and Technology University—suspended face-to-face classes, transitioning students to alternative learning arrangements.
These severe conditions are tied directly to an active El Niño phenomenon in the Tropical Pacific. Pagasa previously announced that climate models project this El Niño to intensify between September and December 2026, persisting through the first half of 2027 and bringing below-normal rainfall, dry spells, and potential drought across multiple provinces.
