Hot days as dry season approaches

MANILA, Philippines — The public should expect high temperatures as the dry season nears, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

In a radio interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Dan Villamil said the temperature in Metro Manila is expected to reach as high as 34 degrees Celsius in the next three to five days.

“We should expect this trend in (succeeding) weeks as the dry season or summer begins,” Villamil said.

He added that the high temperature would result in a high heat index.

“We have what we call heat index or the mixture of temperature and humidity. Heat index is the temperature our body feels,” the weather forecaster said.

The northeast monsoon that brings cold winds to the country continues to weaken, which signals the start of the warm or dry season, according to PAGASA.

“At present, we don’t expect a low-pressure area that can affect our country in the next few days. The northeast monsoon is being experienced in the big portion of extreme North Luzon. There are little chances of light rains in Batanes, in Babuyan Islands,” Villamil said.

He added that the temperature in Metro Manila yesterday ranged from 23 to 32 degrees Celsius; Baguio City, from 15 to 24 degrees Celsius and Legaspi City, from 24 to 31 degrees Celsius.

PAGASA is expected to formally announce the start of the dry season or summer this week.

The state weather bureau though clarified that technically, there is no summer in the country as it only has two seasons – the wet and dry seasons.