The Hot and Dry Season is the perfect time to spend sunny days outdoors with friends and family, which, sometimes, include a furry companion or two. With beloved pets in tow, swimming and playing under the sun becomes more enjoyable. Still, it’s important to remember that like humans, animals are also susceptible to heat-related illnesses.
The expected rise in temperature in the following days may pose challenges to your pet’s well-being. At this time, watch out for potential dangers due to hot weather.
Swimming with Pets
This season, what better way to cool down than swimming? Although it is no secret that our canine friends enjoy swimming, not all dogs have mastered the doggie paddle. Here are some tips to keep your canine friends safe and healthy when taking a dip.
• It is best not to leave pets unsupervised around a pool or on the beach. Small dog breeds may have trouble swimming, so for Lassie’s sake, buy a flotation device to keep your pet safe.
• Prevent your dog from drinking pool water as chlorine and other chemicals may cause him an upset stomach.
• After swimming, rinse your dog with fresh water to remove chlorine or salt to avoid skin irritation.
• Just like people, dogs can have sunburn too with thin-coated and light-colored canines at higher risk. To prevent this, waterproof sunscreen formulated for pets are also available.
Know the Warning Signs: Dehydration and Heat Stroke
Dogs enjoy sitting in the sun as much as cats enjoy lounging in its warmth. However, too much exposure to extreme heat may cause dehydration and heat stroke.
Your furry friend is at risk for heat stroke if he has any of the following characteristics:
• very young
• very old
• has a heart or respiratory disease
• overweight
• short-nosed
• dark-colored,
• thick-coated
• not conditioned to prolonged exercise
Leaving your pet in the car during hot weather is a big no-no, not even with the windows slightly rolled down. This instance results to a rising body temperature of your pet, in which case heat stroke may occur.
Signs include:
• Excessive panting
• Rapid heartbeat
• Difficulty breathing
• Decreased urination
• Drooling
• Mild weakness
• Dry gums
• Excess lethargy
• Lack of coordination
• Refusal to eat
• Glazed eyes
• Seizures
• Bloody diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Unconsciousness
If any of the last four incidents happen, bring your pet to the vet immediately.
To avoid any of the above from happening, be sure to keep plenty of water available for your cat and dog at all times, both indoors and outside. Position them in a shady spot. Help them cool down with a few ice cubes in their water bowl, or even freeze some treats they can enjoy.
It’s all about the timing and street smarts
When the temperature is very high, sidewalks can very hot, capable of harming your pets’ paws and footpads. If you don’t like walking on that pavement with bare feet, limit your dog’s time on it, too.
Stay away from asphalt or rough pavement and only walk your dog in the early morning or late evening when outdoor surfaces are cool. Adjust the exercise routine you have with your canine in accordance with the temperature.
Time to have a trim
Just like any season of the year, grooming is important during warm weather. Feel free to have pet’s mane trimmed but never shave it. The layers of their coats protect them from sunburn and overheating. Your dogs and cats will also thank you for brushing their fur to get rid of matted or excess fur, which can contribute to overheating.
Visit the vet
Having your pets regularly checked is a must especially when parasites such as ticks, fleas and other insects are at their peak during the hot months. Your veterinarian will be able to give recommendations for safe flea and tick solutions.
Just like anyone in your family, your cats and dogs are susceptible to the dangers of hot weather. Protect them from too much sun and heat and you can still continue to have fun in the sun—together.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), a dry spell has been affecting different parts of the country since December 2014. Dry spell happens when below the normal rainfall conditions (21% to 60% reduction from average) are experienced within three consecutive months or two consecutive months of way below normal rainfall conditions (more than 60% reduction from the average). As of April 7, 2015, 30 provinces have been affected – 13 in Luzon, 3 in Visayas and 14 in Mindanao.
PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza clarified that the dry spell is a normal phenomenon in the Philippines. However, this year’s spell is triggered or worsened because of the ongoing weak El Niño.
Prior to the termination of the northeast monsoon, PAGASA issued the first El Niño advisory in early March. In a press statement dated March 11, 2015, an on-going weak El Niño was confirmed through the climate monitoring and analyses of the state weather bureau. El Niño is a climatic condition characterized by the unusual warming of the ocean or an increased sea surface temperature (SST) in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP).
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the term El Niño was originally recognized by fisherman off the coast of South America as the appearance of uncommon warm water in the Pacific Ocean. “El Niño” is also a Spanish term meaning “Little Boy” or “Christ child” because this phenomenon arrives around Christmas.
In Philippine context, the weak El Niño is expected to bring below the normal rainfall pattern and warmer air temperatures in different parts of the country in the coming months. Though the average number of tropical cyclones could still be normal, PAGASA has stated that weak El Niño could affect the cyclones’ movement and intensity, causing them to be more erratic and stronger.
Dry spell on electricity and agriculture
Along with the rise in temperatures, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) said that electricity consumers might also experience an increased generation charge in their bills.
According to Meralco, electricity rates on April went up by 27 centavos on the back of the one-month maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya gas field, which forced power plants to use the more expensive liquid fuel. The overall electricity rate in April is P10.68 per kilowatt-hour, higher than the P10.42 per kwh rate in March, but lower than April 2014’s P11.49 per kwh. Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said in an interview with the Philippine Star that the more critical period is in May, with demand expected to shoot up to as high as 9,100 megawatts.
Despite the escalating temperature, power industry players believe that the Luzon grid may survive the hot and dry season because there are no expected blackouts as feared by the public.
But the dry spell has posed a more concrete threat to the farming industry.
Zamboanga City has already been placed under a state of calamity. Reports said that as of March 30, the dry spell and bush fires have resulted to extensive damage in hectares of rice, corn, vegetables, bananas, cassava and coconuts amounting to more than P132 million.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also declared M’lang and Kabacan in North Cotabato under a state of calamity. Due to dry spell, about P230 million worth of crops were reportedly damaged. Aside from the occurrence of grass fires, the absence of rains the past couple of months has also worsened the situation.
If humans feel the effect of soaring temperatures, animals suffer from their impact, too. The veterinary office in Kidapawan City reported that at least seven hogs and a cow died because of severe heat. The city office has also received reports that some farm animals have weakened, possibly due to heat stroke.
Water Conservation
Conserving water is a must during this current dry spell in the Philippines. Here are some of the water conservation tips that you can begin in your home:
Check and Fix. Regularly check your faucet for leaks. A small drip from an impaired faucet can waste gallons of water per day. Also, check your toilets for leaks. The rule is if there’s a leak, repair it immediately.
Turn it off. Make it a habit to turn off the faucet when not in use— even just for a short time while soaping hands, brushing your teeth and scrubbing the dishes.
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) suggests turning off the faucet firmly to prevent leakage. It is better to install low volume/high pressure (LV/HP) nozzles or flow constrictors to reduce water usage by up to 50%.
Pair a pail with a dipper. When taking a bath, use a dipper and pail instead of always using the shower. In this way, you’ll be utilizing just the right amount of water.
Shorten baths. Due to the blazing heat, many of us love to take our time in bathing. However, this can contribute to the dry spell. By reducing your bath time by a couple of minutes, you can save gallons of water per day.
Get it fully loaded. It is recommended to wash only full loads in your washing machine to save water. You can also adjust the water levels to match the size of the load.
Know when to water your plants. Watering your plants is best done during the early morning or in the late afternoon. Early morning helps prevent the growth of fungus, and is also a defense against garden pests. Doing this can also reduce water loss or evaporation.
For energy saving tips, read here:
Going Beyond Earth Hour | Panahon TV Blog
Sources:
NOAA
NWRB
MERALCO
www.eartheasy.com
PAGASA-DOST
The Philippine Star
Manila Bulletin
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Philippine News Agency
The Easterlies now dominate the eastern section of the Philippines, bringing fair weather conditions apart from isolated thunderstorms in the country.
Easterlies are winds coming from the east. They pass through the Pacific Ocean, resulting into warm and humid conditions. This may generate thunderstorms in the latter part of the day especially over the affected areas.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila has surpassed the highest temperature recorded in April last year. From 35.9 degree celsius in April 27, 2014, Metro Manila experienced the hottest day so far last Saturday, Aprl 18, 2015 with 36.2 degree celsius.
State meteorologist Alvin Pura says temperatures all over the country are expected to rise in the following weeks.
EARTH DAY 2015
Every April 22 each year, the world celebrates the Earth Day. Here are some of the things you can do to protect and conserve Mother Nature.
Rainy weather has welcomed the day in some parts of Mindanao. As early as 5:00AM today, PAGASA issued a rainfall advisory over Davao Oriental, Compostella Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao City, Surigao del Sur and nearby areas. Light to moderate rains were experienced and lasted for about 1 to 2 hours.
Aside from the easterlies affecting the eastern section of Luzon and Visayas, a cloud cluster also prevails over Mindanao bringing cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms over CARAGA and Davao Region. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Manny Mendoza, this cloud cluster will most likely dissipate in the coming hours as it interacts with the land. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
For sea travellers, Mendoza said no gale warning was raised but fishing boats and other small seacraft are still advised to be cautious in venturing out into the eastern seaboard of Luzon. These areas will experience moderate to occasionally rough sea conditions.
Thursday’s temperatures were as high as 35 to 38 degrees Celsius with General Santos City on the top of the list. Here are the areas that experienced the hottest weather yesterday as recorded by PAGASA.
PAGASA continuously monitors the weak El Niño, defined as the unusual warming of the ocean or increasing sea surface temperature (SST). Aside from the below the normal rainfall, it is also expected to bring warmer days or higher temperatures in the Philippines. With this, not only humans will suffer from the effect of the scorching heat but also the ocean and coral reefs.
Here’s an interview with Weather Forecaster Manny Mendoza tackling about the ocean acidification and coral bleaching:
By: Jesy Basco
Easterly winds, characterized by hot and humid air as they pass across the Pacific Ocean, continue to prevail over the eastern section of Luzon and Visayas.
Because of the easterlies, the whole country will enjoy good weather, apart from possible drizzling or isolated rain showers in the eastern section of the country.
Meanwhile, the coasts of Ilocos provinces, La Union and Pangasinan will experience moderate to rough sea conditions due to the surge of northeasterly winds.
Small sea vessels are alerted against the current sea condition.
Las Piñas: No less than a hundred houses burned
Last night at 10:25 PM, a fire started in Basa Compound, Barangay Zapote in Las Piñas City. News of the fire reached Task Force Alpha, requiring all fire trucks in Las Piñas and neighboring cities to respond.
Las Piñas Fire Station FO1 Czarina Escalicas said no less than a hundred houses were burned. The cause of fire is still under investigation.
Because fire incidents are on the rise during the Hot and Dry Season, here are tips on what to do before, during and after a fire.
The same weather condition from yesterday is expected to continue today as the easterlies prevail over the eastern section of Luzon and Visayas.
The skies will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated cases of rain showers or thunderstorms in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
However, rough to very rough sea conditions will be experienced over the western seaboards of Northern Luzon, prompting PAGASA to raise gale warning just this morning.
Fishermen with small seacraft are advised against sea travel in the following hours, particularly over the coasts of La Union, Pangasinan and the Ilocos provinces.
In other news, PAGASA recorded the highest temperature in the country during the month of April in Tuguegarao City with a whopping 42.2 degreesCelsius on April 29, 1912. Meanwhile, 38 degrees Celsius was the highest recorded in Metro Manila in the same month – one in Port Area, Manila in 1915 and in Science Garden, Quezon City in 1998.
By: Jesy Basco
Easterlies remain to be the dominant weather system in the country. Characterized by warm and humid air, easterlies will bring hot and humid weather in the country, particularly in the eastern section.
The whole archipelago will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Highest Temperature Yesterday
According to PAGASA weather forecaster Alvin Pura, we may experience hotter weather conditions in the next coming days, as easterlies continue to prevail.
Easterlies or winds coming from the Pacific Ocean prevails over the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) still affecting the eastern section of Luzon and Visayas. For today’s forecast, generally fair weather is expected in most parts of the country. The whole archipelago will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.
Since easterlies are warm and humid in nature, hot weather will continue in the Philippines. Metro Manila will experience 23 to 33 degrees Celsius while Metro Cebu’s temperature could reach 25 to 32 degrees Celsius. Metro Davao will feel the warmest weather this Friday with temperatures ranging from 25 to 34 degrees Celsius.
PAGASA Weather Forecaster Fernando Cada explained that different factors affect the heat felt in a certain area. These include the topography, location and the prevailing weather system or wind direction. For instance, Tuguegarao City normally experiences warmer days compared to other parts of Luzon because it is part of Cagayan Valley. With this kind of topography, heat is usually trapped by the surrounding mountains.
In another example, General Santos in Mindanao usually tops the list with the highest temperatures during the past few days. Cada said it is influenced by its location or latitude. General Santos is the southernmost part of the Philippines, thus, closer to the equator, which is always warmer than the North and South Poles.
Meanwhile, Cada stated that weak El Nino is still in progress and is expected to bring below the normal rainfall and higher temperatures in the country. El Nino is a climatic condition wherein unusual warming of the ocean or an increase in the sea surface temperature (SST) is observed.
For more information and trivia, watch the interview of Panahon TV with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Fernando Cada:
High temperatures are expected to continue as the easterlies prevail in the eastern section of Luzon and Visayas. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will be experienced today in most parts of the country. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jun Galang said this weather condition will most likely to continue in the next three days as no weather disturbance is being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Easterlies are winds coming from the Pacific Ocean. These winds are warm and humid in nature which result to a hot weather in the Philippines. However, easterlies can also generate thunderstorms because the warmer the air, the more active the water cycle. Thus, rains can also occur mostly in the latter part of the day when the accumulated heat increases.
A scorching temperature of 37.1 degrees Celsius was felt over General Santos City yesterday. Listed below are the highest temperatures recorded by PAGASA on April 8, 2015:
Every year, “heat wave” becomes a hot topic in global weather news. Galang says this phenomenon happens when the average maximum temperature in a specific area increases by 5 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days. For example, if the city’s normal maximum temperature is 35 degrees Celsius, heat wave will occur once it increases to 40 degrees Celsius for the next five days. In the Philippines, Galang explained that there is a slim chance to experience heat wave because we are an archipelagic country surrounded by bodies of water.
PH commemorates the 73rd Day of Valor
By virtue of the Executive Order No. 23, Series of 1987, April 9 was declared as a national holiday in observance of the “Araw ng Kagitingan” or Day of Valor. At 9:00 am today, a ceremony to be led by our president will be held at Mt. Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan.
Meanwhile, Philippine Veterans Week is also celebrated from April 5 to 11 which aims to preserve the principles of our war veterans and promote patriotism among the people, especially the younger generation. This year’s theme is “Ipunla ang Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan”.
