'Temperatures may reach 38 degrees Celsius in May'

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday temperatures might reach 38 degrees Celsius next month due the prevailing easterly winds, the El Niño phenomenon, and the high pressure in bodies of water.

Weather forecaster Joel Jesusa said right now, the temperature range is between 35 to 37 degrees Celsius, and he is not discounting the possibility that it would climb to 38 degrees Celsius.

“Climatologically, the temperature usually goes up during the month of May,” he said.

He recalled that the hottest temperature recorded in Manila was 38.5 degrees Celsius on May 14, 1987. 

Yesterday’s temperature in Metro Manila was between 24 to 36 degrees Celsius, with the hottest time of day recorded at 2:20 p.m. at 36 degrees Celsius.

In its 5 p.m. forecast, Pagasa said Mindanao would experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, while the rest of the country would have partly cloudy to cloudy skies.

Light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon.

Coastal waters throughout the archipelago would be slight to moderate, Pagasa said.