Metro Manila posts new warmest day record

The concrete jungle of Metro Manila sizzled as the temperature hit 35.8 degrees on Saturday afternoon. State weather forecasters said this was the hottest day of the year in the metropolis so far, and indicated that even hotter days lie ahead. Meanwhile, Tugegarao suffered more as Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecasters said the temperature there was even hotter at 37 degrees. The hottest day in Metro Manila was recorded in Quezon City, PAGASA forecaster Mario Palafox told dzBB radio on Sunday. “In Tuguegarao yesterday, it was 37 degrees — the hottest so far," he said in Filipino. Saturday’s temperature was only slightly higher than last Wednesday, when residents in Metro Manila went through 35.5-degree heat. (See: New warmest day of the year registered Wedneday — PAGASA) PAGASA indicated even hotter weather — at 36 degrees — for Metro Manila this coming week. PAGASA’s extended weather forecast as of 5 a.m. on Sunday predicted that Metro Manila might suffer 36-degree heat from Monday to Wednesday this coming week, but Tuguegarao in Cagayan may go through heat as high as 37 degrees. PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez told dzBB radio in a separate interview the public should expect hot weather until at least mid-May, when the first rains are expected to fall. Meanwhile, PAGASA said on Sunday, the country would experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies except for isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly over the eastern section. It said moderate to strong winds coming from the east to southeast would prevail over the eastern sections of Luzon and the Visayas. Coastal waters in Eastern Mindanao will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the east to northeast. The Health department advised the public to avoid exposure to the sun. In an earlier report, a 16-year-old high school student succumbed to heat stroke just days before his graduation. (See: Iloilo teen succumbs to heat stroke — Carmela G. Lapeña/NPA, GMANews.TV