Temperature highest this year last Friday

CEBU, Philippines - The heat was no joke during April Fool's Day last Friday, when the highest temperature in Cebu so far this year, with 33.5 degrees Celsius, was recorded that day.

 Temperature last Thursday, March 31, was also the highest for that month with 33.3 degrees Celsius  - surpassing the 32.6 degrees Celsius recorded as the highest during the same month last year.

Engineer Alfredo Quiblat, Jr., Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Cebu weather station officer-in-charge, said they expect to log even higher temperatures in the coming days.

"Temperature will continue to increase until May this dry season since (the)  El Niño phenomenon still prevails. But we have to take note that this (temperature) is different to the heat that we feel in our body," Quiblat said.

He said that with a 33 degrees Celsius air temperature with result to an average heat index of 37 degrees Celsius.

The heat index, also called apparent temperature, is what the temperature feels like to the human body - when relative humidity is combined with air temperature.

In addition, normal human body temperature varies between 36.5 to 37.5 degrees Celsius

When air temperature rises to more than 33 degrees Celsius, Quiblat said, the heat index would be similar to when a person is suffering from a mild fever.

He reiterated PAGASA's advice for the public to be mindful of the present climatic pattern and take extra precautions when exposed fully to the sun's heat. —(FREEMAN)