Cagayan de Oro swelters as heat index hits 42.4°C after days of rain

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Authorities advise residents to take precautions, including staying indoors during the hottest hours of the day, drinking plenty of fluids, and avoiding strenuous activities

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Residents of Cagayan de Oro complained of stifling heat on Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26, following several days of cloudy skies and rain, as humidity and rising feels-like temperatures gripped the city.

People sought shade and relief from the sudden change in weather, which came after a stretch of cooler, overcast conditions. The abrupt rise in the heat index prompted concerns over discomfort and heat-related illnesses.

The heat index in Cagayan de Oro soared to 42.4 degrees Celsius at 3 pm on Saturday, following several days of cloudy skies, rain, and cooler weather that had tamed actual temperatures below 32°C. The sudden shift caught many residents off guard.

“The heat in Cagayan de Oro is unbearable,” said Jeff Nevin Aceret, who added he had been eager to return home to Talakag, a highland town in Bukidnon known for its cooler climate.

Aceret, however, said he had been told that temperatures had also risen in his hometown.

The Cagayan de Oro City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD) reported that the heat index rose from 38.8°C at 12 pm to 42.4°C three hours later as the air temperature increased from 31.9°C to 33.2°C, with relative humidity holding steady at 66%.

Data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) showed that the maximum temperature in Cagayan de Oro reached 31°C on Friday, July 25. Unlike in previous days, the sun had been visible since Friday as rain and cloud cover eased.

From July 22 to 24, the city saw intermittent rain and overcast skies brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat, with daily highs ranging between 30°C and 31°C, according to PAGASA’s regional weather data.

PAGASA forecast a maximum temperature of 35°C for Misamis Oriental, which includes Cagayan de Oro, for Saturday.

The CDRRMD issued an extreme caution notice due to a high risk of heat-related illnesses.

Authorities advised residents to take precautions, including staying indoors during the hottest hours of the day, drinking plenty of fluids, and avoiding strenuous activities. 

Meanwhile, PAGASA said isolated thunderstorms remain possible later in the day. – Rappler.com