South Florida on track to break heat day records. Yes, it’s hotter than last summer
.JPG "Miami ranks as the second-sweatiest city in America, according to a waterboy.com survey. Staying hydrated, particularly when working out outside, is critical. Pedro Vila wipes off sweat after a workout at Tropical Park.")
The National Weather Service issued another heat advisory Thursday for all of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. It is the 11th heat advisory issued this month.
And yes, it feels hotter than last year. By comparison, there were 11 heat advisories during the entire summer last year.
The National Weather Service issues a heat advisory when the heat index — the “feels like” temperature that combines air temperature and humidity — is expected to reach at least 105 degrees for two hours or more.
Forecasters say it could feel as hot as 108 degrees today.
When a heat warning is issued, even a Floridian who is “used to” the hot and humid summers is at risk of heat sickness.
When humidity is high, it is harder for sweat to evaporate and keep a person cool. This amount of heat will affect anyone who doesn’t drink plenty of water and find air-conditioned or shaded places to cool off.
The hottest temperatures are expected in Homestead, where the high is forecast to reach 96 degrees. Miami is expected to reach 94 degrees.
It’s been hotter than average this week because South Florida has seen little rain, a forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Miami office said.
Miami has more than double the number of heat records this year than in June 2024, which is known as the hottest year ever. Heat is a silent killer. The Weather Service recorded 529 heat fatalities that year, which almost certainly is an undercount.
What the NWS is calling a “major” heat risk is expected to continue into tomorrow.
Ashley Miznazi is a climate change reporter for the Miami Herald funded by the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation and MSC Cruises in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners.
This story was originally published July 16, 2026 at 9:25 AM.
