MANILA, Philippines - For those planning to go out today to celebrate Easter Sunday, better bring your umbrellas as the weather bureau said Metro Manila may sizzle with a new record for the hottest temperature this year.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather forecaster Glaiza Escollar cited two reasons yesterday why Metro Manila residents should carry an umbrella with them when they leave their homes today, especially in the afternoon.
First, they are predicting isolated rain showers and thunderstorms, and second, they are anticipating that the temperature would hit 35 degrees Celsius, which would be a new record for the hottest day in Metro Manila.
Yesterday’s temperature was pegged at 34.6 degrees Celsius, which was only .1 degree lower than the hottest temperature so far of 34.7 degrees Celsius that was recorded last March 23.
Yesterday was so far the second hottest day in the metropolis this year.
Escollar said the temperature of 35 degrees Celsius may possibly be recorded today given the existence of easterlies, a combination of warm and moist air, prevailing over the National Capital Region.
The scorching heat might also affect Central Luzon and the Visayas region.
Pagasa’s records show that the hottest day in Manila’s history was on May 14, 1987 with 38.5 degrees Celsius, while the hottest day in the Philippines was on May 11, 1969 at 42.2 degrees Celsius.
As for the isolated rain showers and thunderstorms, Escollar said these pockets of rain would be felt in some areas only.
“We cannot determine the intensity of the rain but they would be less than an hour in a particular area,” Escollar said.
The rain showers might occur mostly in the afternoon and the evening.
Meanwhile, for those who would be joining the early morning Catholic tradition of the “Salubong,” which is the reenactment of the meeting of the Risen Christ and his Mother Mary, there are no indications of rain.
In its 5 a.m. weather forecast, PAGASA said there is a ridge of high pressure area extending across Northern Luzon.
The whole country would experience partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast would prevail over Northern Luzon and its coastal waters would be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds would be light to moderate coming from the northeast with slight to moderate seas.