00:00 While it's not yet official that the start of dry season in the country is being declared,
00:05 the weather is getting hotter, right?
00:07 Until when will it be? And the question is, will it still be hot?
00:11 Joining us in the news this afternoon is Dr. Marcelino Villafuerte,
00:15 Assistant Weather Services Chief of Pag-asa.
00:18 Good morning and welcome to the news this afternoon.
00:20 Yes, good morning, Sir Chira and also Ma'am Connie.
00:25 Yes, sir. Good morning.
00:27 The heat index is now reaching 40 degrees Celsius or the hottest temperature in some parts of the country.
00:34 What is the reason for the high heat index?
00:38 Is it normal or is there another factor here?
00:44 Let's say, is it El Nino?
00:47 Yes, Ma'am Connie. It's true.
00:49 Actually, yesterday we were able to measure the 42 degree Celsius heat index or the heat of our bodies in Rojas City, Capiz, and also in Cotabato City, Maguindanao.
01:01 The reason for this is that the Easter list is the one that is affecting the places mentioned,
01:07 that's why our heat index reached that level.
01:11 Okay. But it's still normal, right?
01:13 Because even if it's not yet like this, the heat index is not yet starting.
01:18 Yes, Ma'am. Actually, we are expecting that by the month of March, our heat index will reach this level.
01:26 Actually, we are expecting that it will reach this level when April and May come.
01:33 Oh my! They said that 40 degrees Celsius is like the temperature of the mountains.
01:40 So, it's like you're getting hit by a storm.
01:45 Yes, Ma'am Connie. It's true.
01:46 That's how we feel about the heat index.
01:50 This is a combination of the temperature of the air and the humidity that is currently in the air.
01:58 Yes. If the heat index is 40 degrees higher, they said that it's more prone to heat exhaustion and sometimes heat stroke.
02:13 So, what are your advice?
02:15 Well, you're right, Ma'am. At that level of heat index, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and even heat stroke are possible.
02:23 So, we are asking our countrymen to avoid the long time that we are outdoors,
02:32 when it reaches 10 am to about 3 pm.
02:37 This is the daily routine.
02:40 If ever we cannot avoid it, we should use a cover to avoid direct sunlight.
02:47 For example, a umbrella or we should wear comfortable clothes to reduce the heat that we will feel
02:57 due to the high temperature of the air and the humidity in the air.
03:02 While we are talking about the so-called heat index, Sir, what are the characteristics of places that can experience a higher heat index
03:11 when the dry season officially starts? Where are these places?
03:16 Yes, this is typical, Sir. We can record a high heat index in coastal areas.
03:22 The same is true for cities.
03:24 For example, even yesterday, the places that we mentioned are in Rojas City and in Cotabato City.
03:31 These are the cities with more concrete surroundings.
03:35 And then, we are close to the coast.
03:37 This is the source of water vapor or humidity.
03:42 So, the same is true for the valleys.
03:45 We can record a high heat index for those kinds of areas in our country.
03:52 Yes, and Dr. Marcelino, it is not surprising to our countrymen that there is a long heat and intense heat.
03:59 Do you estimate how long this long heat will last when the hot summer season starts?
04:12 Yes, this typically starts in mid-March until about the end of May.
04:19 So, we expect that our experience will last until the end of May.
04:25 Thank you very much, Dr. Marcelino Villafuerte, Assistant Weather Services Chief of PAGASA.
04:32 Thank you very much.
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