Wednesday warmest day of the year; hotter times ahead

The hottest day of the year so far was recorded on Wednesday afternoon at 34.5 degrees Celsius, but state weather forecasters expect even hotter days ahead. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Elvie Enriquez said the 34.5-degree temperature was recorded at 1:50 p.m. "Ang pinakamainit na naitala [ay] 1:50 p.m. So far yan ang pinakamainit ngayong summer (We recorded the hottest temperature so far this year at 1:50 p.m. on Wednesday. That's the hottest so far)," Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio. In a separate interview on dzXL radio, Enriquez said they expect the temperature to go higher in the coming days during the long summer. Enriquez advised the public to avoid exposure to the sun especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. "We expect the temperature to go higher in the coming days, in the 34-degree range," she said in Filipino. PAGASA’s extended forecast up to March 1 showed temperatures in Metro Manila may range from 24 to 34 degrees. Also, Enriquez said the public must at least apply protection or wear light and comfortable clothing to counter possible sunburn. Extreme discomfort Last weekend, PAGASA said that with the El Niño phenomenon threatening the coming summer, 40-degree weather in some parts of the country might be possible. Damage from the El Niño-induced drought has reached P3.7 billion as of Feb. 17, but the number could go as high as P7 billion to date. Affected were paddy rice, corn and high-value commercial crops in 22 provinces, a field report from the Agriculture department’s Central Action Center showed. A well-placed official from the Agriculture department, however, said El Nino-related crop damages have ballooned to P7 billion. (See: "Damage from El Niño may have reached P7B") The dry spell has also been blamed for the looming power crisis in the Visayas and Mindanao, where dams have reached dangerously low levels. (See: El Niño, lack of govt support blamed for Mindanao energy crisis) PAGASA weather bureau head Nathaniel Cruz said that in Metro Manila, temperatures might go up to 36 or 37 degrees, enough to cause extreme discomfort. "Sa Metro Manila possible umabot 36 or 37 degrees, iyan sapat na para makaranas ng matinding init (In Metro Manila, the weather could go up to 36 or 37 degrees. That is enough to feel very hot)," he said in an interview on dzRH radio last Saturday. The hottest temperature recorded in the Philippines was in Tuguegarao in Cagayan province on April 29, 1912, when the temperature reached 42.2 degrees Celsius or 108 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Weather Explained Website. "Pagdating ng Marso at Abril lalo na pag Mayo (We expect the weather to get hotter in March and April, and especially hot in May)," he added. — RSJ/HGS/NPA, GMANews.TV