STATE weather bureau Pagasa warned that heat index readings exceeding 52 degrees Celsius — classified as “extreme danger” — may be recorded from the final week of February through June 2027.
Forecaster Glaiza Esculiar confirmed in an interview that the hottest and most humid conditions typically unfold during this period, raising the risk of heat‑related illnesses across the country. “We expect levels nearing the danger threshold, with the potential to hit extreme danger,” Esculiar stated, noting that the seasonal pattern is being amplified by the lingering El Niño phenomenon.
Under “extreme danger” conditions, residents face a high risk of heat stroke with prolonged exposure or physical activity outdoors. El Niño is forecast to persist through the first half of next year, posing significant risks to agriculture and fisheries. For Wednesday, November 4, at least nine areas are already projected to experience heat index values in the “danger” range of 42 to 51 degrees Celsius, signaling that warmer conditions are setting in earlier than usual.
Even with the Christmas season approaching, Pagasa advised that temperatures will not drop as low as they did last year. Esculiar explained that El Niño’s influence will keep minimum temperatures higher, meaning nights will remain relatively warm compared to the same period in 2025. The bureau urged the public to prepare for hotter days ahead, stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity during peak heat hours, and monitor daily weather advisories as conditions develop.
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