Extreme heat gripped Calamba City; Talisay, Batangas

LUCENA CITY — The heat index in Talisay, Batangas reached 41 degrees Celsius, while Calamba City, Laguna, registered 40 degrees Celsius on Thursday, Oct. 22.

To help residents cope with the prevailing heat, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) in Talisay advised them to take precautionary measures in a Facebook post at 2:45 p.m.

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In an advisory, the Calamba City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) said the heat index reached 40°C at 1:30 p.m., up from 39°C recorded at 10:30 a.m.

Heat index values typically peak from midday through the late afternoon, when high temperatures and humidity can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration defines the heat index as the temperature felt by the human body when air temperature is combined with relative humidity.

The state weather bureau classifies heat index readings into four categories: “Caution” (27°C to 32°C), “Extreme Caution” (33°C to 41°C), “Danger” (42°C to 51°C) and “Extreme Danger” (52°C and above).

Talisay and Calamba’s heat index readings both fall under the “Extreme Caution” category.

The Department of Health advised the public to stay hydrated, limit exposure to direct sunlight and observe other precautions against heat-related illnesses as high heat index conditions persist in parts of the country. /mcm