The shift from extreme cold to extreme heat is almost intolerable. During the 159 days I experienced bitter and unpleasantly cold winter in Ontario, Canada, the far eastern side of North America.
Springing forward was much anticipated for a more pleasant weather. But then, the first days of spring, that officially started March 20, were, alas, marked by heavier-than-usual snowfall. Locals are appalled but not exactly caught off guard.
When I left via Pearson International Airport several days ago, the temperature was 2 degrees Centigrade; 18 hours later (with a 4-hour layover at the Incheon International Airport in Korea), it was almost wee hours in the morning and 29°C at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. I just imagined how hot it would get at noon that day!
Climate has truly changed. A few days later, Toronto was issued a weather warning of a spring storm characterized by heavy rains and possible floodings, coupled with very chilly wind gusting about 80 kilometers per hour. And it did happen!
It's weird! It remains very cold in Toronto with temperatures ranging from 3 to 9°C. So, there is still use for winter garbs, head to toe, and for winter tires.
Unsettling Weather
This is why before I left Canada, I closely monitored news and learned about the spate of extreme heat projected to go to as high as 50°C in many areas in the Philippines. So unsettling that the effects of El Niño manifesting itself early.
Naturally, most affected are the very young and the very old.
Schools are taking action and try to keep schoolkids indoors while the elderly are cautioned from going out under searing sun. Heat-related health issues are for real. Pertussis is one.
Last Monday, April 8, in a copy of the Department of Education memo received by OpinYon, DepEd-Quezon reaffirmed that school authorities could automatically shift to modular distance or online learning should the temperature not be tolerable and unbearable for students.
In the succeeding days, the DepEd affirmed decisions by other schools district as a consequence of the extreme heat.
Automatic suspension of face-to-face classes is up to local school authorities if the heat index reaches 40°C as that could already pose a health risk to young students.
Food Security
As the Philippines is still dominantly agricultural, farmers are concerned with food security now that drought has affected vegetation and their pastures.
Photos of cracked and fissured rice fields are all over the Net, newspapers and television. Exposure of plants to optimal heat reduces the quality of agricultural products yield.
Agriculture does not only refer to planted food crops. Also, fisheries and livestock cannot endure high temperature.
How are we to secure food sources in the country when climate is the No. 1 factor to consider presently?
We may have in mind that increase in food production secures our sources. To consider for food supplies are availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. Big words!
Challenges also lie in the external factors on how to get food on the table.
And climate has much to do with it.
Temperature vs Heat Index
Obviously, we look at the measure of the surface temperature, which most mistake for heat index.
In a sense, both are similar except that heat index is the temperature that "feels like".
Often, in Canada, when Mr. Weatherman — who is 98 percent accurate in predictions — posts that the temperature is 0°C, there is a tagline "feels like -7°C." This is mostly due to the wind chill that makes one feel colder. The 0°C temperature is the general atmosphere while the heat index is how we feel it on our skin.
Just A Prelude To Summer
In the ensuing "extreme heat" description of PAGASA, the highs and lows can be dangerous to the very young and very old.
So students and farmers alike feel the same under this climatic and erratic weather condition. If they stay exposed to heat, directly or indirectly, heat exhaustion or stroke is not unlikely.
Heat makes us sweat. While sweating cools the body down, when humidity level is high this extra moisture will have a hard time evaporating. Hence, the "malagkit" feeling.
The DepEd's concerned is for real and we admire that. The agency is right to consider students' welfare that is why face-to-face classes are shifted to modular distance learning, the mode adopted during the pandemic.
Summer is just starting. Let's gear up and stay safe for what else is to come.
(email opinyon.luchie@gmail.com or luchiearguelles@yahoo.com)
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