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Heat index of 57 degrees Celsius, ‘extreme danger’ level
By J.Lo
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) heat index in the Philippines could reach “extreme danger” level of 57 degrees Celsius after Iba, Zambales on Sunday recorded 53 degrees Celsius.
Highest extreme danger heat index of 57 degrees Celsius was recorded on April 20, 2020 in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, PAGASA Impact Assessment and Application Section officer-in-charge Meliton Guzman recalled.
Aside from San Jose, highest heat index recorded was in Dagupan City, Pangasinan on May 9, 2016 at 55 degrees Celsius and in Aparri, Cagayan on May 18, 2021 at 54 degrees Celsius, based on PAGASA’s records from 2010 to 2023.
In Metro Manila, heat index could reach 48 degrees Celsius after 45 degrees Celsius was recorded on April 27, Guzman said.
More than 40 areas will experience “danger” level heat index today as El Niño and dry season continue to affect Philippines, according to the state weather bureau.
Heat index in Dagupan City, Pangasinan could reach 46 degrees Celsius, PAGASA said. Dagupan City’s heat index yesterday reached 51 degrees Celsius.
Aparri and Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, Coron and Aborlan in Palawan and San Jose in Occidental Mindoro could experience extreme heat at 45 degrees Celsius.
In Metro Manila, Ninoy Aquino International Airport could experience 44 degrees Celsius heat index, PAGASA noted.
On April 28, Iba, Zambales recorded “extreme danger” (52 degrees Celsius and above) heat index of 53 degrees Celsius, highest so far this year, PAGASA said.
Extreme heat will persist until second week of May, PAGASA noted.
Other areas that could experience dangerous heat index between 42 and 51 degrees Celsius today are Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Echague, Isabela; Baler and Casiguran, Aurora; Ambulong, Tanauan City, Batangas; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Virac, Catanduanes; Iloilo City and Dumangas, Iloilo at 44 degrees Celsius.
Science Garden in Quezon City; Sinait, Ilocos Sur; Batac, Ilocos Norte; Bacnotan, La Union; iba, Zambales; Clark Airport, Pampanga; Subic Bay, Olongapo City; Sangley Point, Cavite; Legazpi, Albay; Pili, Camarines Sur; Roxas City and Mambusao, Capiz; La Carlota, Negros Occidental and Guian, Eastern Samar could record 43 degrees Celsius.
Bayombong, Nueva Ecija; Tayabas City and Alabat, Quezon; Daet, Camarines Sur; Masbate City, Masbate; Tacloban City, Leyte; Maasin, Southern Leyte; Zamboanga City and Butuan, Agusan del Norte could experience 42 degrees Celsius.
South Cotabato is seventh province to declare state of calamity due to El Niño, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
Other provinces that have declared state of calamity are Occidental Mindoro, Antique, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and Basilan.
Filipino farmer pumps water from well in desperate attempt to save his wilting vegetables, as scorching heatwave and worst drought in years hits crops.
It has hardly rained on his plot of gourds and tomatoes since November, as El Nino weather phenomenon brings drier conditions and baking temperatures.
“I’m losing lot of money,” 57 year old farmer, told media, standing barefoot on the cracked ground in northern province of Nueva Ecija.
His gourds “died before I could even sell them”, pushing him deeper into debt.
El Nino is naturally occurring climate pattern typically associated with increased heat worldwide, leading to drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere.
Unusually hot weather has blasted South and Southeast Asia for past week, forcing schools to send children home and authorities to issue health warnings.
Global temperatures hit record highs last year, and United Nations’ weather and climate agency said last week Asia was warming at particularly rapid pace.
More than half of Philippines’ provinces, including Nueva Ecija, are in drought as El Nino exacerbates hot and dry conditions typical for March, April and May.
Temperatures have sizzled around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of the country in recent days, with heat index what temperature feels like, taking into account humidity in one area hitting 53C.
In the Philippines, ranks among countries most vulnerable to impacts of climate change, upcoming harvest is likely to be “below average”, UN has warned.
Crop losses are estimated at more than four billion pesos ($69 million) and farmers face further hardship if drought doesn’t break soon.
It is hoped rain in mid-May will bring some relief, but drier than normal conditions could persist until August, Ana Solis, chief climatologist at the state weather forecaster said.
Joey Villarama, spokesman for government’s Task Force El Nino, said current conditions were comparable to drought during 1997-1998 El Nino, country’s worst-ever dry spell.
“We are up against nature,it’s very difficult because it’s unpredictable,” Villarama said.
Farmers in Nueva Ecija normally count on Pantabangan Dam for irrigation, but levels have fallen nearly 50 metres (164 feet) and it no longer reaches their fields.
Receding water forced two hydropower plants to shut earlier than usual worsening already strained electricity supplies, as people crank up air conditioners and fans to cool off.
Some farmers switched from rice to vegetables, need less water, but even those are dying.
Farmer’s January harvest was halved by insufficient rain, and those he did pick were too small to sell at the market.
Now, groundwater is drying up.
It takes three times as long to draw water from well as it did before.
Farmer worries how he will cope if rains do not come soon and his well dries up as others around have done.
“Farming is my only way to earn a living,” Farmer said, fearing he would slip deeper into debt and be unable to send his youngest child to school. “If there’s no water, how can I continue?”
Farmers in drought-stricken Occidental Mindoro province, south of main island of Luzon, have started to receive financial assistance.
“You could push your fist through cracks, that’s how severe it is for rice farms,” said Daisy Leano, information officer for San Jose municipality.
As dam levels drop, some urban areas have been left without water.
More than 100 cities and municipalities have declared drought state of calamity to access emergency funds.
Fire trucks have been deployed in neighborhoods of Bacolod city in central province of Negros Occidental to deliver water to residents.
In central province of Cebu, residents has to pump water from well in another village to cook and bathe, after water from nearby dam stopped.
“I think this is hottest and longest dry season I have ever experienced, that it actually affected my everyday life,” Nida said.
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