New warmest day of the year registered Wednesday — Pagasa

Residents in Metro Manila on Wednesday went through the hottest day so far this year at 35.5 degrees Celsius, even as state weather forecasters warned of hotter days until at least mid-May. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) noted this came just one week after Metro Manila went through 34.5-degree heat. [See: Wednesday warmest day of the year; hotter times ahead] "Kahapon so far yan ang pinakamainit ngayong tag-init, maximum kahapon 3:30 p.m., 35.5 degrees Celsius dito sa Metro Manila (Wednesday was the hottest day so far this year, with temperatures climbing to 35.5 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila at about 3:30 p.m.)," Pagasa forecaster Elvie Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio on Thursday. She said it was even hotter in Tuguegarao in Cagayan province in northern Philippines, where temperatures soared up to 36 degrees Wednesday.

Enriquez said the public may have to expect hot weather until at least mid-May, when the first rains are expected to come. "Itong inaasahan natin maaring maantala hanggang pagdating ng tag-ulan, mga second week ng Mayo maaring magumpisa magkaroon ng pag-ulan (We expect the rains to come in the second week of May)," she said. Potential rain clouds On the other hand, Enriquez said the sighting of dark clouds in parts of Metro Manila Wednesday is good news as it may mean potential rain clouds. "It is a good sign... that there are potential rain clouds." Before Wednesday’s record-setting heat, the hottest day of the year so far was recorded at 1:50 p.m. of Feb. 24 at 34.5 degrees Celsius. Enriquez advised the public to avoid exposure to the sun especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. "Inaasahan natin maaring malalampasan ngayong araw yan o maging katulad din iyan, mga 34 (We expect the temperature to go higher in the coming days, at the 34-degree range)," she said. El Niño Earlier, Pagasa said that with the El Niño phenomenon threatening the coming summer, 40-degree weather in some parts of the country may be possible. Last week, it was reported that 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. 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 may go up to 36 or 37 degrees, enough to cause extreme discomfort. The hottest temperature recorded in the Philippines was in Tuguegarao in Cagayan province on April 29, 1912. On that day, the temperature there reached 108 degrees Fahrenheit or 42.2 degrees Celsius, according to the Weather Explained website. - RSJ, GMANews.TV