PAGASA ON SEVERE HEAT: THE WORST IS OVER

THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the worst is over in terms of the record-high temperatures and extreme heat.

According to PAGASA, many areas in the country may possibly experience thunderstorms in the second half of May.

PAGASA climate monitoring and prediction section chief Ana Liza Solis, in a radio interview, said  it is possible that the hottest temperature for this year has been recorded after an actual temperature of 40.3 degrees Celsius was observed in Tarlac on April 27.

“Hopefully, this is the hottest daytime temperature for this year,” Solis said.

However, she said many areas could still experience a high heat index between 45 and 48 degrees Celsius.

According to her, there is a 60 percent possibility that La Niña will prevail in June, July and August.

“The peak of El Niño is in March, April and May. Many areas have already declared a state of calamity and hopefully this will not increase,”  the PAGASA official said.

Solis noted that localized thunderstorms could occur in the second half of May.

“This will lessen the high heat index that we are experiencing. If the localized thunderstorms will persist and there will be big weather systems like low-pressure areas, intertropical convergence zones or typhoons, this can trigger the declaration of the onset of the rainy season,” according to Solis.

She added that El Niño could also delay rains in the country.