Enjoy the rain? Heat wave could bring near-record-high temperatures to Florida. See forecast
Did you enjoy the recent rainfall in Florida?
Good, because now hold onto those umbrellas for a different reason: It's going to get hot. Really hot.
Temperatures are expected to climb the rest of this week, into the weekend, and then into early next week.
➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location
The National Weather Service in Jacksonville is warning that, based on current forecasts, records could be set or tied not only for record highs but even the low temperatures could set a record for high minimums.
But before you complain, expected high temperatures in Florida don't compare to the triple digits forecast for parts of Texas, where some cities could see high temperatures of 113.
Temperatures above normal are expected from May 18 through May 22, especially for Florida, south Texas and stretching into southern Georgia, according to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
The six- to 10-day forecast aligns with earlier predictions from the Old Farmer's Almanac, which forecast summer 2025 "is shaping up to be a doozy!" It's prediction said Florida is expected to be hot and dry this summer, although South Florida could see cooler, rainy conditions.
➤ Check your AC. Forecast calls for 'doozy' of a summer. See what Florida can expect
June through August could "feature sweltering heat, severe weather, intense wildfires and the start of a dynamic hurricane season," AccuWeather said in its summer forecast.
And rounding out the trifecta of unwelcome news, NOAA's summer forecast predicted temperatures across the Sunshine State will likely be above-average for all of Florida.
Expect temperatures to climb steadily across much of Florida.
"Records could be tied or broken based on current forecasts. Lows appear to be above normal, and potentially close to record high minimum. Heat indices look to be peak to near 100," the National Weather Service Jacksonville warned in its forecast for May 16-May 19.
"Hot," the National Weather Service Melbourne said, saying residents across the East Coast and Central Florida can expect "well above normal temperatures," although records are a little more uncertain at this time. A moderate heat risk is expected across most of the area through the weekend.
High temperatures expected Saturday, May 17, across Florida:
Pensacola: 84
Tallahassee: 95
Jacksonville: 96
Daytona Beach: 92
Melbourne: 91
Port St. Lucie: 93
West Palm Beach: 85
Naples: 90
Fort Myers: 92
Sarasota: 84
Planning to check out the theme parks in Central Florida over the weekend? Be prepared for sunny skies with a high near 95.
➤ 8 tips on how to enjoy Florida theme parks during hot, humid weather
As of 8 a.m., May 13, more than 6 million people across the U.S. are under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings, according to the National Integrated Heat Health Information System.
➤ NOAA heat risk map
The most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses are children, babies and older adults, especially those with pre-existing conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Here's how to protect yourself and family from heat:
Drink plenty of water.
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and drinks high in sugar and sodium.
Apply sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every two hours.
Minimize direct exposure to the sun.
Wear lightweight, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing.
Take regular breaks in the shade or air-conditioned areas.
Take a cool bath or shower.
Don't turn a fan toward you if the room temperature is warmer than 90 degrees. The dry blowing air will dehydrate you faster.
Try to avoid strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day.
Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads.
Check on others and never leave someone or a pet in a parked car.
The Centers for Disease Control said these are the symptoms of your body overheating:
Muscle cramping
Unusually heavy sweating
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Headaches
Weakness
➤ CDC Heat Risk website by ZIP code
When summer arrives depends on which summer you mean.
Meteorological summer is June, July and August.
Astronomical summer arrives on the summer solstice and ends with the autumn equinox. So astronomical summer this year will run from June 20, the date of the summer solstice for 2025, to Sept. 22, the arrival of the autumn equinox.
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year.
We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida heat wave: Near record temps expected. See forecast by city
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Coastal low could bring rain, wind, dangerous rip currents to South Carolina coast this week
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – A coastal low could bring heavy rain, windy conditions, and dangerous rip currents to the Charleston area this week. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center said in their Tuesday morning outlook that a non-tropical area of low pressure is expected to form near the southeastern U.S. coast in the next couple of days. If the low remains offshore, forecasters say it could develop some subtropical or tropical characteristics later in the week. The system could bring unsettled weather to the region, including heavy rainfall, breezy conditions, and an increased risk for dangerous rip currents along the beaches Wednesday into Thursday. According to the National Weather Service, rain is expected to spread across the Lowcountry on Wednesday, with rainfall amounts ranging from one to three inches, and some isolated higher amounts possible. Gusty winds are possible from Wednesday into Wednesday night, specifically at the beaches, which brings an increased risk of rip currents. Stay prepared this season with the Storm Team 2 Hurricane Ready Guide For now, the National Hurricane Center is giving this system a low 10% chance of forming in the next seven days. Count on Storm Team 2 for updates. — Be sure to download the News 2 app and Storm Team 2 app so you can receive weather alerts and find the latest weather-related information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hurricane season is here. NOAA is in shambles. What could go wrong?
Hurricane season in the Atlantic has officially begun. And while this year will likely be less extreme than in 2024 — one of the most destructive seasons ever, with the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record — it's still shaping up to be a doozy. Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predict 'above-average' activity this season, with six to 10 hurricanes. The season runs from June 1 to November 30. 60 percent: Chance of an above-normal hurricane season. 6 to 10: Hurricanes expected this season, meaning tropical storms with wind speeds reaching at least 74 mph. 3 to 5: Major hurricanes, or storms with wind speeds reaching 111 mph or higher. 13 to 19: Named storms, referring to tropical systems with wind speeds of at least 39 mph. NOAA says it will update its forecast in early August. At least three of those storms will be category 3 or higher, the forecasters project, meaning they will have gusts reaching at least 111 miles per hour. Other reputable forecasts predict a similarly active 2025 season with around nine hurricanes. Last year, there were 11 Atlantic hurricanes, whereas the average for 1991 to 2020 was just over 7, according to hurricane researchers at Colorado State University. A highly active hurricane season is obviously never a good thing, especially for people living in places like Florida, Louisiana, and, apparently, North Carolina (see: Hurricane Helene, the deadliest inland hurricane on record). Even when government agencies that forecast and respond to severe storms — namely, NOAA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA — are fully staffed and funded, big hurricanes inflict billions of dollars of damage, and they cost lives. Under the Trump administration, however, these agencies are not well staffed and face steep budget cuts. Hundreds of government employees across these agencies have been fired or left, including those involved in hurricane forecasting. What could go wrong? The primary reason is that Caribbean waters are unusually warm right now, Brian McNoldy, a hurricane expert at the University of Miami, told Vox. Warm water provides fuel for hurricanes, and waters in and around the Caribbean tend to be where hurricanes form early in the season. If this sounds familiar, that's because the Caribbean has been unusually warm for a while now. That was a key reason why the 2024 and 2023 hurricane seasons were so active. Warm ocean water, and its ability to help form and then intensify hurricanes, is one of the clearest signals — and consequences — of climate change. Data indicates that climate change has made current temperatures in parts of the Caribbean and near Florida several (and in some cases 30 to 60) times more likely. The Atlantic has cooled some since hitting extremely high temperatures over the last two summers, yet 'the overall long-term trend is to warm,' said McNoldy, a senior research associate at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. The other key reason why forecasters expect an ample number of hurricanes this year has to do with a complicated climate phenomenon known as the ENSO cycle. ENSO has three phases — El Niño, La Niña, and neutral — that are determined by ocean temperatures and wind patterns. And each phase means something slightly different for hurricane season. Put simply, El Niño tends to suppress hurricanes because it causes an increase in wind shear — the abrupt changes in wind speed and direction. And wind shear can disrupt hurricanes. In La Niña years, meanwhile, there's little wind shear, allowing hurricanes to form, and they're often accompanied by higher sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic. Right now the ENSO phase is, rather unexcitedly, neutral. That means there won't be the high, hurricane-blocking wind shear of El Niño, but the conditions won't be as favorable as they are in La Niña. This all leads to more unpredictability, according to climate scientists. When publishing the NOAA hurricane forecast last month, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who oversees NOAA, said 'we have never been more prepared for hurricane season.' Climate scientists have challenged that claim. They point out that, under the Trump administration, hundreds of workers at NOAA have been fired or otherwise pushed out, which threatens the accuracy of weather forecasts that can help save lives. FEMA has also lost employees, denied requests for hurricane relief, and is reportedly ending door-to-door canvassing in disaster regions designed to help survivors access government aid. 'Secretary Lutnick's claim is the sort of lie that endangers the lives of people living along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, and even those further inland unable to escape the extensive reach of associated torrential rains and flooding,' Marc Alessi, an atmospheric scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, an environmental advocacy group, told Vox. 'Notwithstanding the valiant efforts of dedicated career staff, this administration has taken to actively thwarting the vital scientific work at agencies including NOAA that communities rely on to stay safe throughout hurricane season.' View Link According to Alessi, a handful of National Weather Service offices along the Gulf Coast — which is often hit by hurricanes — currently lack lead meteorologists. 'Missing this sort of expertise in the face of a projected above-average hurricane season could lead to a breakdown in proper warning and evacuation in vulnerable communities should a storm strike, potentially leading to more deaths that could have otherwise been avoided,' Alessi said. As my colleague Umair Irfan has reported, the National Weather Service is also launching weather balloons less frequently, due to staffing cuts. Those balloons measure temperature, humidity, and windspeed, providing data that feeds into forecasts. 'They've been short-staffed for a long time, but the recent spate of people retiring or being let go have led some stations now to the point where they do not have enough folks to go out and launch those balloons,' Pamela Knox, an agricultural climatologist at the University of Georgia extension and director of the UGA weather network, told Irfan in May. 'We're becoming more blind because we are not having access to that data anymore. A bigger issue is when you have extreme events, because extreme events have a tendency to happen very quickly. You have to have real-time data.' The White House is also trying to dramatically shrink NOAA's funding, proposing a budget cut of roughly $2 billion. In response to the proposed cuts, five former directors of the National Weather Service signed an open letter that raises alarm about what funding and staffing losses mean for all Americans. 'Our worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be needless loss of life,' the former directors wrote in the letter. 'We know that's a nightmare shared by those on the forecasting front lines — and by the people who depend on their efforts.'
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Canada wildfires bring hazy sunshine to DC Tuesday as smoke drifts in, temps in the 80s
The Brief Hazy skies in D.C. as Canadian wildfire smoke drifts south, bringing filtered sunshine but no rain. Temperatures climb into the mid-80s Tuesday, kicking off stretch of warm days. Showers likely by the weekend, with increasing heat and humidity through midweek. WASHINGTON - A smoky haze is likely over parts of the D.C. region on Tuesday as Canadian wildfire smoke drifts into the region, bringing filtered sunshine but no rain. Temperatures will rise into the low 80s, marking the start of a stretch of warm days ahead. The day begins with a cool start, with morning lows in the 40s and 50s before climbing to an afternoon high of 84 degrees. A high-pressure system overhead will keep the region rain-free and steer any precipitation away. What we know Similar conditions are expected on Wednesday, though heat and humidity will start to build through the middle and later parts of the week. Overnight, skies remain clear, with temperatures dropping into the 50s and 60s. By Wednesday, look for summer-like weather with increased humidity and highs in the mid-80s. Sunny with his in the upper-80s on Friday, with a slight chance of showers. Showers are also likely on Saturday, with mostly cloudy skies and highs in the low 80s. By Sunday, sunshine returns, with temperatures reaching the upper-70s. - Stay indoors and keep windows closed. Keep your pets indoors too! - When using air conditioning, keep the outdoor air intake closed and clean the filter to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. - If you go outside, avoid exertion and consider wearing a respirator (N95 or P100 mask). Monitor the air quality for your zip code at The Source Information in this article comes from the FOX 5 Weather Team and the National Weather Service.
