Expect hotter days in Dagupan City and in other parts of Pangasinan as well.

This “warm” news came from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Dagupan Chief Meteorologist Jose Estrada Jr.

Estrada said Thursday, May 13, the high heat index being felt by Dagupan City is set to last until the third week of May.

Temperatures have been soaring here this week with the country’s record for the highest heat index this year, broken twice – 51 degrees on May 8, and 52 degrees on May 12.

Estrada said the intense heat in these parts were caused by easterlies and high sea surface temperature.

Three areas in the Philippines are contending for the record of the highest heat index. There are: Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province, Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija, and Dagupan City in Pangasinan.

Estrada said Dagupan City’s location is the reason it has been rewriting heat index records.

As a coastal city, Dagupan is prone to sizzling heat as the sea temperature becomes hotter. And since heat is refracted through concrete, this slows down the heat dispersion – the perfect recipe for soaring heat index.

“More on concrete kasi ang Dagupan, kaya kaunti na lang ang mga puno at halaman na nag-aabsorb, kaya yung dahil sa concrete nagkakaroon ng refraction ng heat”, said Estrada.

(Dagupan has lot of concrete, and there are less trees and plants to absorb the heat. The concrete cases heat refraction.)

However, Estrada said by the third week of May, the heat index is set to lower. He said the southwest monsoon or habagat is expected to begin blowing at the end of the month, bringing with it cooler temperature and rains.

Meanwhile, he urged the public to take cover when thunderstorms and hailstorms occur.

Recently, the towns of Bugallon, Asingan, and Tayug experienced hailstorms, aside from isolated thunderstorms in different parts of the province.

Estrada said weather phenomenons such as thunderstorms, hail, and even tornadoes are normal during the months of April and May.

Estrada said if someone were caught in a thunderstorm, he should stay away from trees or any structure with electric cables attached to it, as this has likely more chances of being struck by lightning.

This also includes structures with lightning arresters.

He also urged the public not to use cellphones outside when there are thunderstorms. – Rappler.com