CEBUANOS are urged to take precautionary measures this hot dry season to avoid heat stroke, skin cancer and other illnesses.
Engr. Al Quiblat, chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Visayas, told SunStar Cebu Saturday, March 25, 2023, that the expected temperature this season ranges between 26 and 33 degrees Celsius and will last until May this year.
But Quiblat said there is a possibility the temperature will be higher than expected.
He stressed that this year’s hot dry season will be hotter compared to the last three years, when the La Niña phenomenon was experienced for a longer time.
Quiblat said La Niña ended last March 10 and the current condition is the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (Enso) or neutral, wherein the changes in condition or action at the eastern and central Pacific Ocean between the atmosphere and the ocean are normal.
Pagasa declared the official start of hot dry season in the country on Tuesday, March 21.
He said the hottest time of the day would be around 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
He said the heat index will also reach 38 degrees Celsius during the hot season this year, prompting the state weather bureau to urge the public to take precautionary measures.
Heat index is a measure of the contribution that high humidity makes with abnormally high temperatures in reducing the body’s ability to cool itself.
“Heat stroke is possible when a person has direct and prolonged exposure to sunlight for more than 20 minutes,” he said, adding that sun exposure should be avoided specially from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to avoid heat stress, heat stroke and skin cancer.
Quiblat advised the public to use caps, umbrellas and wear light color and lightweight clothes.
“Most importantly, everyone should optimize the daily consumption of water,” he said.
Quiblat said isolated rains is still likely to occur even during the dry hot season due to the hydrological cycle.
For the last three years, Quiblat disclosed that Pagasa Mactan recorded the highest temperatures on the following dates: May 23, 2022 (34 degrees Celsius), Sept. 30, 2021 (35 degrees Celsius) and March 15, 2020 (35.80 degrees Celsius).