Summer doldrums have set in, with heat advisories issued across parts of the US South
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — The summer slump has already set in in much of the United States. Heat warnings were issued on Saturday for Texas and South Florida, among others.
In Miami, temperatures reached the low 90s (32 degrees Celsius) before noon Saturday. That’s largely due to a lack of clouds and rain, said Sammy Hadi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami. He said it’s not unusual to have a heat warning in South Florida this time of year.
“It’s just a hot piece,” Hadi said. “There will be more coverage for showers and thunderstorms tomorrow, so that should keep temperatures below the heat advisory thresholds.”
While rain may keep temperatures low, it could dampen the spirits of thousands of people expected to show up in Fort Lauderdale for an oceanfront parade in honor of the Florida Panthers First-Ever National Hockey League Championship. Umbrellas and rain ponchos can therefore be best-selling items parade route over A1A.
Scorching heat under a heat dome blanketed parts of the Southern Plains and many Southern states on Saturday, and the National Weather Service issued extreme heat warnings for northeastern Texas, the eastern half of Oklahoma, northern Louisiana and most of Arkansas. High temperatures are forecast around and above 100 degrees F (38 degrees C) with heat indexes of 110 to 115 degrees F (43 to 46 degrees C).
The extreme heat warnings issued Saturday extend to eastern Mississippi and Tennessee, including Memphis.
National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Curl said brief relief was expected in some areas Saturday evening with rain in parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas before the heat returned.
“This dome will reassert itself over Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana early next week through Wednesday or Thursday,” Curl said. “Then maybe some rain and cooler temperatures … highs in the 90s rather than around the turn of the century.”
Cities like Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City, Little Rock and Memphis have announced cooling centers in public spaces like libraries and local community centers throughout the day. In Dallas, public transit stations are available for those seeking cooler conditions.
Earlier this month, a deadly heat wave hit the southwestern US, Mexico and Central America.
Attribution of the world weathera group of scientists conducting rapid, non-peer-reviewed climate attribution studies found that human-caused climate change turn up the thermostat and significantly reduce the chance of a heat wave.
Meteorologists say these conditions were due to what some are calling a heat dome — an area of strong high pressure over the southern Gulf of Mexico and northern Central America that blocked cloud formation and brought plenty of sunshine and high temperatures.
Weather conditions in South Florida are not affected by Tropical Storm Beryl, which is still far out in the Atlantic Ocean. The storm is expected to become a major hurricane as it barrels towards the west and the Caribbean.
“But it’s always good to keep an eye on the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center. And this is a good reminder to always be prepared for hurricanes, even before there is a system,” Hadi advised people living in hurricane-prone areas live.
For anyone living in an area with heat warnings in place, Hadi offers the following advice: take regular breaks when outside, stay hydrated and wear light clothing that reflects heat.
And most importantly, be careful of children and pets.
“One thing I really try to get across is tell people to always look before you lock,” Hadi said. “You always want to check the backseat to make sure you’re not leaving your child or your pet in there. Even if it’s 90 degrees or 95 degrees outside, the inside of a car heats up quickly. And unfortunately, a lot of kids die because of that.”
____
Miller reported from Oklahoma City.