South Floridians hoping for a significant break are out of luck as forecasters expect triple-digit “feels-like” temperatures to continue stifling the state this week.
The National Weather Service on Wednesday issued a heat advisory from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, and warned that intense conditions are likely to persist into next week.
“Feels-like” temperatures are forecast to range from 105 to 108 degrees on Wednesday, the NWS said.
Advisories are issued when the heat index during peak daytime hours is high enough to pose health risks, particularly if these conditions are expected to last two or more hours. The threshold for a heat advisory varies by county. The index has to surpass 105 degrees in Broward and Miami-Dade, and 108 degrees in Palm Beach County, according to NWS meteorologist Ana Porres-Vazquez.
While this isn’t too out of the ordinary for this time of year, experts recommend staying hydrated, taking shade breaks when outside for too long, wearing light clothing, and limiting demanding outdoor activity in the afternoons.
“People that are outside, construction workers, anybody that’s going to be outdoors for a long period of time or not in shaded areas … could be at risk for heat illnesses,” Porres-Vazquez said.
She linked the heat to high pressures over the Atlantic Ocean that tend to draw moist, warm air toward the area. “We’re just getting really warm air over our region,” she said.
Higher humidity causes higher temperatures, said Dave Houk, senior meteorologist with forecast company AccuWeather.
“Your body struggles a little more and you’ve got to replace those fluids quickly,” he said.
Abraham Medina wears his portable shade hat as he washes his car in Oakland Park on Wednesday.
(Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Meteorologist Mark Fox said the NWS expects rain chances to increase later this week, offering a brief respite from the heat. However, he said conditions could be even hotter next week.
South Florida has recorded 11 heat advisories for Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties so far this year, a decrease from 22 during the same period last year, NWS meteorologist Mark Fox told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
The continental United States experienced its hottest March in 132 years, according to the Associated Press.
“We recommend that people be very mindful if they’re traveling with children or pets in their cars, to not leave them inside,” Porres-Vazquez said.