Hottest in Metro Manila this year: 35.5ºC

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) recorded yesterday the hottest temperature in Metro Manila this year at 35.5 degrees Celsius.

Pagasa weather forecaster Gener Quitlong said this was recorded at 3:30 p.m. at the Pagasa Science Garden in Diliman, Quezon City.

As for the weather, Pagasa deputy administrator Nathaniel Cruz said that the easterly wind – which brings warm and humid weather to the country – has already set in.

Cruz said the easterly wind is now the prevailing wind system in the country.

“We can expect warmer weather in the next several months particularly during the months of April and May,” he said, adding that the weather bureau will formally announce the onset of summer in the next days.

Cruz said temperature in Metro Manila could reach 37 degrees Celsius, while in the northern part of Luzon, residents can expect as high as 40 degrees Celsius.

“The El Niño in the equatorial Pacific has peaked but in terms of its effect to the country, we cannot say that we already experienced the worst of El Niño,” he said.