Olongapo heat index reaches 44.8°C, remains at danger level

OLONGAPO CITY— The city continued to experience dangerously high heat levels on Sunday, Oct. 25, as the heat index in Barangay Barretto climbed to 44.8 degrees Celsius, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).

The reading, recorded on Sunday morning, placed the area under the “danger” category of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Meanwhile, the monitoring station in Barangay Old Cabalan registered a heat index of 40.5°C as of 10:35 a.m., falling under the “extreme caution” category.

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Data from the two monitoring stations showed that heat index readings in the city ranged from 42.7°C to 46°C over the past three days.

The highest reading recorded in October, based on available data, was 46.6°C in Barretto on Oct. 4, logged at 11:22 p.m.

The heat index, also known as the apparent temperature, measures how hot the weather feels to the human body when relative humidity is combined with actual air temperature.

Unlike actual temperature, the heat index accounts for the effect of humidity, which can make conditions feel significantly hotter.

Under Pagasa’s classification, heat index readings between 42°C and 51°C fall under the “danger” category, where heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely, while prolonged exposure may lead to heat stroke.

Readings between 33°C and 41°C are classified as “extreme caution,” with heat cramps and heat exhaustion possible, particularly during prolonged physical activity.

Authorities advised residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, particularly during the hottest hours of the day, seek shade or stay in well-ventilated areas, and drink water regularly to prevent heat-related illnesses. /mcm