The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assured the public on Monday that this year’s dry season will not be as intense as the scorching heat brought by the El Niño phenomenon in 2024.
During a press briefing at Malacañang, PAGASA Assistant Weather Services Chief and spokesperson Ana Liza Solis said that while high temperatures are still expected, they will be milder compared to last year’s record-breaking heat.
“Although we will still experience hot temperatures, last year was significantly hotter,” Solis stated. “The dry season in 2024 was more extreme due to a strong El Niño, which led to unprecedented temperatures and soaring heat indexes.”
The World Meteorological Organization previously confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record globally. PAGASA also reported that it was the warmest year in Philippine history since monitoring began in 1951.
Despite this year’s expected relief from extreme heat, Solis cautioned that heat indexes could still climb to 48 to 50 degrees Celsius, particularly towards late April and early May. However, she reassured the public that actual temperatures are unlikely to hit 40 degrees Celsius. The extreme heat index of 52 degrees recorded in 2024, she added, would only occur in isolated cases rather than widespread conditions.
Solis also clarified that despite the rising temperatures, PAGASA has yet to officially declare the onset of the summer season.