[UPDATED on May 8] Can you feel the heat? Filipinos sure can!
The Philippines seems to be cooking in a big oven these days in the middle of the warm, dry season, coupled with the effects of El Niño. As a result, many schools have returned to remote and other alternative modes of learning, and the offices of some local government are set to adjust their work schedules to somehow spare the students and employees from the sizzling heat.
How intense has been the heat so far in 2024?
The charts below show the maximum computed heat index per day as reported by PAGASA, based on data from its 69 weather stations around the country.
PAGASA defines heat index as the “measure of the contribution that high humidity makes with abnormally high temperatures in reducing the body’s ability to cool itself.” In other words, it is the estimated measure of heat our body feels, which takes into account not just the actual temperature of the air but also the relative humidity in it. For example, the temperature could be 36°C on a hot summer day, but the high humidity might make it feel like it’s 39°C.
In addition to posting daily updates on heat index figures and 2-day forecasts on its website, PAGASA is generous and dutiful in sharing historical heat index data to the public. I requested data, they responded promptly, so here it is!
(The requested historical data was initially up to April 11, so the base data begins from January 1 up to that date. Then, every 5 days or as needed, the charts will be updated with the latest data manually encoded from PAGASA’s heat index microsite.)
Click the image below (or click this link) to check out the interactive charts. Go through the slides using the left/right arrow button on the upper right corner to see the heat index values per station in North & Central Luzon, Metro Manila & South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The stations are also grouped (and colored) by region. You may also enter the name of specific stations in the search bar.
Data is as of May 8, 2024.
PAGASA categorizes these heat index figures into 4 warning levels, depending on the heat’s effect on the body:
- Caution (yellow): 27°C to 32°C
- Extreme Caution (orange): 33°C to 41°C
- Danger (red): 42°C to 51°C
- Extreme Danger (dark red): 52°C and above
So far, one station has logged an extremely dangerous heat index: at 53°C in Iba, Zambales, on April 28. Although, on the footnote of its daily graphics, PAGASA clarifies that values beyond the 53°C heat index “are estimates, which might already be unrealistic” and “should therefore not to be interpreted in terms of their absolute magnitudes, but rather on the health risks they pose on us.”
Notice also that since March 26, all stations in Visayas (see 3rd slide) have reflected heat indices in the Extreme Caution level and above (or at least 33°C). It has also been the case in Mindanao (see 4th slide) since April 11 (except for General Santos on April 30), and in North & Central Luzon (except in Baguio City and La Trinidad, both in Benguet) since April 12 (see 1st slide).
In Metro Manila & South Luzon (except in Tanay, Rizal), the heat index is 33°C and above since March 27. But in multiple days since April, Tanay’s heat index has been in and out of the Extreme Caution level to “join” everyone else (see 2nd slide).
Records per station
The table below lists down the highest maximum computed heat index per station, and the date (or the most recent date) when it was logged. In addition, the number of days that each station reported at least a Danger-level heat index so far in 2024 is also listed, along with the most recent date it was recorded.
Data is as of May 8, 2024.
| Station | Highest Max. Heat Index (in °C) | Last Recorded | Days w/ at least Danger-level Heat Index (42°C and up) | Danger-level Index Last Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAIA, Pasay City | 46 | Apr 24 | 19 | May 8 |
| Science Garden, Quezon City | 44 | Apr 28 | 11 | May 6 |
| Sinait, Ilocos Sur | 45 | Apr 26 | 8 | May 6 |
| Laoag City, Ilocos Norte | 47 | Apr 25 | 21 | May 8 |
| Dagupan City, Pangasinan | 51 | Apr 29 | 42 | May 8 |
| MMSU, Batac, Ilocos Norte | 44 | May 8 | 14 | May 8 |
| Bacnotan, La Union | 47 | Mar 19 | 27 | May 8 |
| Itbayat, Batanes | 42 | May 1 | 1 | May 1 |
| Calayan, Cagayan | 42 | Apr 30 | 4 | Apr 30 |
| Basco (Radar), Batanes | 47 | Apr 25 | 2 | Apr 29 |
| Aparri, Cagayan | 48 | May 2 | 30 | May 8 |
| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan | 46 | Apr 29 | 26 | May 8 |
| NVSU Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya | 43 | Apr 28 | 2 | Apr 28 |
| ISU Echague, Isabela | 45 | Apr 28 | 14 | May 6 |
| Baguio City, Benguet | 32 | May 3 | 0 | – |
| BSU, La Trinidad, Benguet | 33 | Mar 26 | 0 | – |
| Iba, Zambales | 53 | Apr 28 | 19 | May 8 |
| Clark Airport (DMIA), Pampanga | 45 | Apr 28 | 8 | May 8 |
| CLSU Muñoz, Nueva Ecija | 47 | Apr 28 | 14 | May 8 |
| Baler (Radar), Aurora | 47 | Apr 24 | 17 | May 8 |
| Casiguran, Aurora | 45 | Apr 28 | 16 | May 6 |
| Abucay, Bataan | 41 | Apr 23 | 0 | – |
| Cubi Pt., Subic Bay Olongapo City | 47 | Apr 28 | 16 | May 8 |
| Tayabas City, Quezon | 44 | Mar 28 | 6 | Apr 28 |
| Sangley Point, Cavite | 48 | Apr 24 | 21 | May 6 |
| Ambulong, Tanauan Batangas | 47 | Apr 28 | 22 | May 7 |
| Tanay, Rizal (Radar) | 36 | Apr 25 | 0 | – |
| Infanta, Quezon | 46 | Apr 28 | 8 | May 3 |
| Alabat, Quezon | 45 | May 7 | 12 | May 7 |
| Mulanay, Quezon | 42 | May 5 | 3 | May 5 |
| Calapan, Oriental Mindoro | 44 | Apr 25 | 9 | May 1 |
| Coron, Palawan | 46 | Apr 29 | 15 | May 2 |
| San Jose, Occidental Mindoro | 46 | Apr 27 | 28 | May 8 |
| Romblon City, Romblon | 43 | Apr 28 | 1 | Apr 28 |
| Puerto Princesa City, Palawan | 46 | Apr 30 | 40 | May 8 |
| Aborlan, Palawan | 47 | Apr 29 | 34 | May 8 |
| Cuyo, Palawan | 45 | May 6 | 8 | May 8 |
| Daet, Camarines Norte | 46 | Apr 27 | 13 | May 5 |
| Legazpi City, Albay | 45 | Apr 24 | 9 | May 7 |
| Virac (Synop), Catanduanes | 47 | May 4 | 27 | May 8 |
| Masbate City, Masbate | 46 | Apr 30 | 22 | May 8 |
| Juban, Sorsogon | 43 | Apr 26 | 2 | Apr 27 |
| CBSUA-Pili, Camarines Sur | 49 | Apr 28 | 30 | May 5 |
| Roxas City, Capiz | 48 | Mar 27 | 34 | May 8 |
| Mambusao, Capiz | 44 | Apr 28 | 7 | May 8 |
| Iloilo City, Iloilo | 46 | Apr 27 | 24 | May 8 |
| Dumangas, Iloilo | 45 | Apr 28 | 32 | May 8 |
| La Granja, La Carlota, Negros Occidental | 43 | May 1 | 9 | May 3 |
| Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental | 40 | Apr 30 | 0 | – |
| Panglao International Airport, Bohol | 41 | May 7 | 0 | – |
| Mactan International Airport, Cebu | 40 | Apr 28 | 0 | – |
| Siquijor, Siquijor | 42 | Apr 30 | 1 | Apr 30 |
| Catarman, Northern Samar | 48 | May 1 | 30 | May 8 |
| Catbalogan, Western Samar | 44 | Apr 26 | 8 | May 6 |
| Tacloban City, Leyte | 47 | Apr 30 | 11 | May 6 |
| VSU-Baybay, Leyte | 41 | Apr 26 | 0 | – |
| Borongan, Eastern Samar | 42 | May 3 | 3 | May 3 |
| Guiuan, Eastern Samar | 47 | May 5 | 17 | May 8 |
| Maasin, Southern Leyte | 41 | Apr 30 | 0 | – |
| Dipolog, Zamboanga Del Norte | 44 | Apr 27 | 12 | May 8 |
| Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Del Sur | 45 | Apr 28 | 25 | May 7 |
| Laguindingan Airport, Misamis Oriental | 42 | Apr 28 | 3 | Apr 28 |
| Malaybalay, Bukidnon | 42 | Apr 25 | 1 | Apr 25 |
| CMU Agromet, Musuan, Bukidnon | 42 | Apr 27 | 1 | Apr 27 |
| Davao City, Davao Del Sur | 43 | Apr 27 | 14 | May 6 |
| Cotabato City, Maguindanao | 44 | Apr 7 | 41 | May 6 |
| General Santos City, South Cotabato | 41 | May 7 | 0 | – |
| Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte | 42 | Apr 25 | 1 | Apr 25 |
| Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte | 46 | Apr 27 | 13 | May 6 |
So far, out of the 69 weather stations, 59 have recorded a highest maximum heat index that is at least 42°C.
Dagupan City in Pangasinan has logged “dangerous” heat index values for a combined 42 days in the year to date, the most recent of which was logged on May 8. It is followed by Cotabato City in Maguindanao (with 41 days in the Danger level) and Puerto Princesa City in Palawan (with 40 days).
(Stay tuned for more updates on this page, as more requested data from PAGASA gets processed.)
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