Southeast Asia heatwave: Thailand’s heat index tops 52 degrees as Philippines risks ‘overloaded’ power systems
- Bangkok’s heat index – a measure of how hot it feels like when humidity is taken into account – was listed as above 52 degrees Celsius on Tuesday
- It comes as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr warned of possible brownouts as intense heat sears Southeast Asia, fuelling cooling demand
More than three dozen districts across Thailand’s 77 provinces have seen record temperatures in April, generally the hottest month of the year, with new highs beating records held as far back as 1958, according to data from the Thai Meteorological Department.
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Temperatures have topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in 26 provinces this month, according to the agency. The northern province of Lampang has seen the highest temperature so far this year at 44.2 degrees, just shy of the highest temperature ever recorded in Thailand – 44.6 degrees – that was last seen in 2016 and 2023.
Thailand’s power usage surged to another record of 36,699 megawatts on Monday amid soaring temperatures, according to data on the state energy regulator’s website. That was the third time demand hit a new peak in about one week.
The weather bureau advised people to avoid outdoor activities for a long period of time with maximum temperatures in most regions expected to top 40 degrees on Tuesday. Deaths related to heat have risen to about 30 nationwide this year, the Ministry of Public Health said last week.
Bangkok’s heat index – a measure of how hot it feels like when humidity is taken into account – was listed as above 52 degrees and “very dangerous” on Tuesday, according to a Facebook post by the metropolitan administration.
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“Our consumption has suddenly increased because it’s very hot,” Marcos told reporters on Monday. “We’re continuing to monitor the power supply.”
The nation will implement strategies intended to prevent any jump in electricity prices “at least for now”, he said.
The nation’s grid operator issued yellow alert warnings on Monday for potential disruptions to supply to the main Luzon island and Visayas. Power demand in Luzon is forecast to peak at 13,893 megawatts, only around 1,000MW below available capacity.
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Temperatures reached a record 38.8 degrees in the capital Manila on Saturday, and were as high as 39.2 degrees in the northern Philippines on Sunday, according to the nation’s weather forecaster.
