In what could be a preview of the kind of “summer” Filipinos would experience this year, Puerto Princesa in Palawan registered a 35 degrees Celsius maximum air temperature on Saturday, more than 4 degrees higher than its normal average of 30.9 degrees for the month of February.

It was the highest maximum air temperature in the entire country on that day, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Baguio City, the so-called summer capital of the Philippines which is nestled some 1,500 meters above sea level, also exceeded its average 23.9 degrees Celsius maximum air temperature during February, with 24 degrees Celsius recorded on Saturday.

On the other hand, the PAGASA Science Garden in Quezon City registered 32.9 degrees, also above its normal 31.6 degrees Celsius average maximum air temperature for February.

The sizzling temperatures, taken from 1 p.m. onwards, were registered as summer, or more accurately the “hot dry season”, has yet to officially set in the country.

PAGASA weather forecaster Mario Palafox said the hot temperatures were recorded in Puerto Princesa and elsewhere even though the prevailing wind during this time is the northeast monsoon locally known as "amihan", which brings cold Siberia winds from October to February.

“Amihan is weakening. Anytime this week, maybe we will announce the termination of the northeast monsoon,” Robert Sawi, chief of PAGASA's weather forecasting section, explained to the Manila Bulletin.

The termination of “amihan” signals the end of the cool dry season in the Philippines from December to February and the start of the hot dry season, which lasts up to May, Sawi said.

PAGASA officials have warned that this year’s summer season would be hotter than usual as a result of the prevailing drought in the country brought about by the El Niño phenomenon.

PAGASA even raised the possibility that some parts of northern Luzon would experience temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius this summer because of the El Niño.

PAGASA Director Dr. Prisco Nilo said the hot air temperature is caused by the lesser amount of rainfall at this time of the year.

“The El Niño may have peaked last month and is now on its declining stage but its effects would linger until May or June in terms of less amount of rainfall in the country,” he said.

“El Niño” is the Spanish for “Boy Child” and is characterized by the unusual warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that causes droughts. It occurs usually around December or Christmas time, thus the name.

According to PAGASA records, the highest air temperature ever recorded in the Philippines was at 42.2 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao City on May 11, 1969.