BY: CHARLES NIKKO LIMON
The rising temperatures in Baguio City are becoming more noticeable, and according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), this is just the beginning. The city’s heat index could reach up to 31 to 32 degrees Celsius in the coming days.
For students like Shane Espenido, the shift in weather is evident. Once bundled up in jackets on the way to school, he now opts for a t-shirt.
“Even at night, it’s not as cold as last month,” he observed. “It’s still not as hot as in lowland areas, so the weather here is still manageable.”
Likewise, resident Gelikah Valdez has traded her jacket for an umbrella.
“It’s not usual to sweat just by standing around, but now it happens,” she said.
According to PAGASA’s Baguio Synoptic Station, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 18.6°C and a maximum of 27.4°C on March 6, 2025. This is a stark contrast to the 11.8°C recorded on January 28, one of the lowest temperatures this year.
Weather observer Mar Josef Santos explained that this warming trend signals the end of the northeast monsoon or “amihan” season.
“As we move into these months, it’s an indication that the cool winds are weakening and will soon disappear,” he said.
Baguio City can expect maximum temperatures ranging from 27 to 30°C during the summer season, but the heat index—or the temperature the body actually feels—could rise to 31 to 32°C.
“This is the perceived temperature by our bodies, as humans absorb heat. So, we estimate that the heat index could go up by one or two degrees,” Santos added.
While Baguio’s projected heat index remains within safe levels, other areas are experiencing more extreme heat. In Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, and Dagupan City, Pangasinan, heat indices reached a dangerous 45°C on March 2 and March 6, respectively.
With temperatures rising, Baguio residents are adjusting their routines. Shane Espenido has started experiencing colds, while 77-year-old Boni Billa stays active by walking daily at the Convention Center.
“I walk about 3,000 steps every day,” Billa said.
Despite the heat, PAGASA reminded the public that occasional rain showers brought by easterlies remain possible in the coming weeks.
