Feeling the Heat: A Simple Discomfort Score Approach to Mapping Thermal Stress Among Selected Cities in Negros Oriental
Keywords:
Heat Discomfort Score, Urban Heat, Temperature, Humidity, Canlaon City,, Tanjay City, Dumaguete City, Climate StressAbstract
This study examined urban heat discomfort in three cities of Negros Oriental, namely, Canlaon City, Tanjay City, and Dumaguete City using a simplified indicator called the Heat Discomfort Score (HDS). The HDS was computed from monthly average temperature and relative humidity data for 2024 to 2025 obtained from reliable meteorological sources. The computational formula used was: HDS = (T × RH) / 100, where T represents average monthly temperature (°C) and RH represents average monthly relative humidity (%). Results show that all three cities experienced varying levels of heat discomfort across the two-year period, with Canlaon City generally exhibiting the highest HDS values, followed by Tanjay City and Dumaguete City. HDS tended to be higher during warmer and more humid months, particularly from May to December in both years. This indicates that climatic conditions, with the combination of temperature and humidity—have a noticeable influence on perceived heat discomfort in these tropical urban areas. The findings suggest that the Heat Discomfort Score is a practical and accessible tool for measuring and comparing heat stress in different urban environments. Its simplicity makes it suitable for community awareness, public health preparedness, and local planning efforts in regions vulnerable to heat stress due to temperature and humidity interactions.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Jaylyn Mae Fraincine C. Quimada, Alaina O. Lastimoso, Jascel Q. Ramirez (Author)
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