Dagupan City sizzles with new record for highest heat index this year

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17) — The heat index in Dagupan City, Pangasinan peaked at 53°C on Thursday - the highest so far this year, as it broke the 51°C recorded last Saturday.

Heat index - the temperature felt by the human body - is based on air temperature and relative humidity combined.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Dagupan City had an air temperature of 35.0°C and relative humidity of 74% at the same time at 5 p.m.

PAGASA classifies an index that is more than or equal to 52°C as "extreme danger."

Other areas that recorded high heat index on Thursday were CLSU Muñoz in Nueva Ecija (42°C), and Daet in Camarines Norte (43°C).