Scorching heat and humidity hit parts of Texas, the Gulf Coast and South Florida this week – a period of extreme heat at the beginning of the season that has experts preparing for what’s to come.
A month before the official start of summer, Miami is already in the midst of the hottest May on record, according to experts.
The city’s heat index — a measure of what conditions are like when humidity and air temperatures are combined — reached 112 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend, shattering the previous daily record by 11 degrees, according to Brian McNoldy, a researcher senior associate at the University of Miami. The weekend’s heat index also beat Miami’s monthly record by 5 degrees, he wrote in a post on X.
“Even if it was two or three months from now, like July or August, it still would have been pretty surprising to have two days in a row with a heat index of 112 degrees here,” McNoldy said. “For any time of year, this would be extraordinary. But in mid-May, it was completely unprecedented. Not even close.”
Last summer was the hottest on record in Miami – and the entire planet. Forecasters say above-average temperatures are likely for much of the country over the next three months, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said last week that 2024 is already on track to rank among the five hottest years in recorded history.
Miami’s recent heat index reading of 112 degrees was recorded on Saturday and Sunday, marking only the second time in the city’s recorded history that there have been consecutive days with heat index values at or above that level, according to McNoldy. The other instance was on August 8 and 9, 2023.
“It’s certainly warmer now than it has been in 2023 so far,” McNoldy said. “I don’t know what the rest of 2024 holds, but I hope this isn’t a harbinger of record-breaking 2023.”
Miami has already extended the period it considers to be the official hot season, moving from May 1 to October 31 annually – a response to the previous onset of high heat and humidity.
Meanwhile, a heat warning is in effect for much of South Texas. Temperatures of up to 113 degrees can be expected in some places, particularly along the Rio Grande, according to the National Weather Service.
The agency said heat index values between 110 degrees and 120 degrees are expected this week, with even more dangerous heat lingering into the weekend.
“As a result, large to extreme risks of heat-related impacts are expected throughout South Texas,” the report said. meteorological service said in its statement. “Make sure to stay calm, drink plenty of water, and take frequent breaks if you’re going to be spending time outside!”
High heat and humidity, including heat indexes around 100 degrees, are also expected in Houston in the coming days. The city is still recovering last week’s deadly stormswith tens of thousands of residents still without power.
Studies have shown that climate change is making early-season heat more likely, as well as fueling more frequent, intense and longer-lasting heat waves.
The consequences can be deadly. Heat kills more people each year in the United States than any other weather disaster, according to the weather service.
This article was originally published in NBCNews. with
