What month does it start getting hot in Florida? Heat wave expected this weekend, next week
Summer in Florida has yet to officially begin, but things are already heating up.
Ahead of Memorial Day, which most people in the U.S. consider the unofficial "start of the summer," Floridians will see temperatures hit potentially record-breaking highs next week. It's already warm and summery weather in Florida, but the heat wave will ramp things up and is likely a harbinger of a very hot summer ahead.
Here's when it usually starts getting hot in Florida, when the upcoming heat wave is expected to hit and a quick breakdown of the forecast for summer 2025 in Florida.
Where you live in the state determines what month it will start feeling noticeably warmer for you. Florida is a peninsula, so the northern region of the state cools down faster and sees summer later in the year than the southern region of the state.
'Variation from the mean date of arrival and departure of the hot season increases from northern to southern Florida,' Florida State University's Climate Center says. 'The timing, frequency and strength of cold fronts from the interior of the nation vary greatly from year to year.'
For example, places in North Florida, like Tallahassee and Jacksonville, start seeing noticeably warm weather in May. But most places in South Florida, like Miami and West Palm Beach, started seeing summery weather in March, and can even see summer temps as early as February.
And this year, things are heating up quickly. A heat wave is on its way.
Tips to stay cool: Jacksonville could experience record-breaking high temperatures next week
Yes. Record-setting high temperatures are expected across Florida, climbing up to the mid-90s in parts of the state, including Jacksonville, through the weekend and early next week.
The National Weather Service in Jacksonville is warning that, based on current forecasts, records could be set or tied not only for record highs – even the low temperatures could set a record for high minimums.
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.
And although it will be hotter than is typical for this time of year, 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.
This orecast aligns with earlier predictions from the Old Farmer's Almanac, which predicted that summer 2025 was 'shaping up to be a doozy!" Its prediction said Florida is expected to be hot and dry this summer, although South Florida could see cooler, rainy conditions.
In much of the state, temperatures will reach the mid-90s this upcoming week, which is abnormally high for May in north Florida, specifically.
Enjoy the rain? See forecast: Heat wave could bring near-record-high temperatures to Florida.
Yes. This summer is predicted to be a hot one in Florida.
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 NOAA's summer forecast predicted temperatures across the Sunshine State will likely be above-average for all of Florida.
It depends on what you consider the start of summer. To start, there's a difference between the astronomical and meteorological first day of summer. And a lot of people in the U.S. see Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial 'start of summer,' while those with kids in school might base the turn of the season on when school lets out for the summer season.
If you consider the start of summer to be the first sweltering temperatures of the year, the first heat wave is expected to hit on May 18 (see above).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Summer heat in Florida: Heat wave bringing high temps to Florida early
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
24 minutes ago
- CBS News
Massive Sahara dust cloud is cloaking the Caribbean on its way to the U.S.
A massive plume of Saharan dust is covering the Caribbean as it makes its way toward to the United States, where it is expected to impact the Gulf region and other areas. Dust was covering Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and other parts of the region on Tuesday, according to CBS Miami's NEXT Weather radar. The plume was forecast to move northwest and reach Florida mid-week, then hit other states including Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas and Louisiana by Friday. Cars drive along a highway as a cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert blankets most of the Caribbean, in Cataño, Puerto Rico, Monday, June 2, 2025. Alejandro Granadillo / AP A dust plume from Africa already made its way to Florida over the weekend, CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG reported. Radar showed dust lingering over the state on Monday. By mid-week, a larger plume will be over Florida, affecting air quality in the state. It will then flow northward, radar shows, more widely affecting southeastern U.S. states and the Gulf region. CBS Miami's NEXT Weather radar shows the Saharan dust forecast for this Friday, June 6, 2025. CBS News Dust from Africa typically move across the Atlantic every year. It is known the Saharan Air Layer, and dust activity tends to peak from late June to the middle of August, meteorologist Jason Dunion told NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service in 2020. New dust plume "outbreaks" can be seen every few days and reach as far west as Texas. As dust hits the U.S. this week, air quality is also being impacted in some states by wildfire smoke from Canada, where more than 100 fires were burning "out of control" on Tuesday, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center.
Yahoo
an hour 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
an hour 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.'
