MindanaoToday.com | Heat index in Normin hits over 40 degrees
By: Uriel Quilinguing
Heat index, the apparent temperature the human body feels when air temperature is combined with relative humidity, has breached the 40 degrees Centigrade mark in Northern Mindanao—extreme caution and danger-level categories as set by the state’s weather bureau due to the prevailing El Niño weather pattern.
On Thursday, April 25, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), recorded 42˚C heat index at Musuan, Maramag town of Bukidnon, following the same derived value of temperature on Tuesday, April 23, at Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.
Heat index, also known as “humiture” when it was introduced by American weathercaster George Winterling in 1978, breached the 40˚C mark in Northern Mindanao on Sunday, April 21, at the Laguindingan Airport which is situated on a open space along the Macajalar Bay.
In a Meet the Press forum at SM Down Premier in Cagayan de Oro on Wednesday, April 24, Anthony Joseph Lucero, chief of Mindanao PAGASA Regional Services Division (MPRSD), said heat index advisories are intended to warn the public of the effects of extreme heat on one’s health.
Heath index 40˚C and beyond could cause dehydration, cramps, exhaustion, and even stroke, depending on how a person respond “to soften the impact” of high apparent temperature, and the mitigating measures local governments adopt, Lucero said.
With prolonged exposure to heat index ranging from 42˚C to 51˚C which is “Danger” or “Red” in category, heat stroke is probable and hat cramps and exhaustion are likely. Under the “Extreme Caution” or “Yellow” category which covers 33˚C to 41˚C, heat cramps and exhaustion are likely and continuing activity could lead to heat stroke.
The MPRSD said that while cloudiness has been observed and light rains may be experienced in some areas these do not mean that El Niño is over.
On Thursday, April 27, air temperatures in Northern Mindanao ranged from 26˚C to 32˚C while relatively humidity was 79% at 6 am and 27% at 3:05pm, as posted online by the Mindanao PRSD which is based at Molugan, El Salvador City.
Lucero echoed the advisories from health and disaster risk-reduction offices to avoid direct exposure to sunlight from 10 am to 3 pm, stay hydrated, and wearing of loose and light-colored clothes.
PAGASA is forecasting over 40˚C heat indices for Misamis Oriental, including Cagayan de Oro City, and Bukidnon, including Malaybalay City, for Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27. Heat index in Malaybalay City may reach 43˚C on Saturday, according to a five-day PAGASA weather forecast.
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