‘Excessive Heat Warning’ is issued in Miami-Dade for first time by NWS
For the first time ever, the National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning for Miami-Dade County on Sunday, prompting the county to open up 14 cooling sites.
Starting June 1, the NWS lowered the bar for excessive heat warnings and advisories in the area. Now, they issue an excessive heat warning when the heat index — or what the temperature will feel like to people when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature — remains at 110 degrees or higher for at least two hours.
Although meteorologists calculated actual temperatures would remain in the 90s throughout Sunday in Miami-Dade, they issued a warning until 7 p.m. because they predicted higher heat indices of up to 110 to 112 degrees.
They lined up a heat advisory after the warning from 7 p.m. Sunday to 7 p.m. Monday, with temperatures feeling as high as 106 degrees then.
As a result of the warning, Miami-Dade County Emergency Management opened 14 facilities as cooling sites until 7 p.m. Sunday, including the Mary Abreu Community Center at Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40th St., and the recreation center at Martin Luther King Memorial Park, 6160 NW 32nd Ct.
In collaboration with the county, the NWS changed its criteria for heat advisories and excessive heat warnings this summer as part of a pilot program. After the season ends, officials will reevaluate and settle on definitive criteria for 2024 and the future.
The county estimates the heat kills about 34 people and hospitalizes hundreds more each year.
FROM JUNE: It’s heat season. Expect more health warnings this summer in Miami-Dade
They changed the standards because they consider the new numbers “better aligned with local climatology, as well as recent health data which indicate that significant health impacts from heat occur at heat index values” lower than previously thought, according to its website.
The NWS tweeted Sunday asking South Floridians to protect themselves and their loved ones from the scorching sun, especially if they plan a “Sunday Fun-day” outside.
“Staying hydrated, taking breaks in the shade, and wearing comfortable light-colored clothing is key,” the tweet reads.
Clothing that is lightweight and loose-fitting also helps, as well as applying sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30 every two hours.
Alcohol consumption, certain medications and medical conditions, physical exertion and exposure to the sun all exacerbate the heat’s impacts, according to experts. The elderly and infants also face higher risks.
Temperatures may soar much higher inside parked cars.
“Never leave children or pets in a parked car even if it’s only for a short amount of time,” the NWS asked in another tweet.
What will the weather look like the rest of the week?
As of Sunday, the NWS meteorologists anticipated another hot day Monday, with a high of nearly 92 and heat indices as high as 106 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms also are likely, mainly after 2pm. At night, the temperature could drop as low as about 79 with 60% chance of rain.
On Tuesday, the forecast shows a partly sunny day with a high of nearly 91, with showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11 a.m. At night, the temperature will decrease to about 80, with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Wednesday will likely be a partly sunny day with a high of nearly 91 and a 70% chance of rain. That precipitation percentage will fall to 50% in the evening, with a low of about 80.
On Thursday, the chance of rain also stands at 70% during the day, shrinking to 30% at night. Experts placed the high during the day at nearly 91 and the evening low at about 80.
For Friday, the NWS expects a mostly sunny day with a high of nearly 92 and a 60% chance of rain that will extend throughout the night, when the temperature drops to about 79.
This story was originally published July 16, 2023 at 10:52 AM.
