Cavite, Quezon Localities Face Danger-Level Heat Index Despite Rains

Despite rainy weather affecting parts of the country due to the southwest monsoon, or habagat, two localities in Cavite and Quezon provinces continued to experience high heat index levels on Saturday, July 18. In Imus City, Cavite, the city Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) recorded a 43.7 degrees Celsius heat index at 12 noon. “We are now under the Danger category. At this level, prolonged exposure to extreme heat carries a very high risk of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and may even lead to heat stroke,” the CDRRMO said in an advisory written in Filipino. Meanwhile, the DRRMO of Atimonan, Quezon, reported a 39°C heat index at 12:12 p.m., based on data from the local government’s Automated Weather Station. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the heat index measures how hot it feels to the human body when air temperature is combined with relative humidity. Pagasa classifies heat index values as “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). Heat index values typically peak between midday and late afternoon. Health authorities warned that prolonged exposure to extreme heat may lead to heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke—a life-threatening medical emergency that can damage vital organs, including the brain, heart, and kidneys. The public was advised to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, wear light and breathable clothing, and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, especially during the hottest hours of the day. In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, Pagasa said the southwest monsoon would continue to bring rains over the western section of Northern Luzon on Saturday, while localized thunderstorms were expected to affect the rest of the country, including Metro Manila.