It鈥檚 already the hottest May in Miami, ever 鈥� at least judging by the heat index, a 鈥渇eels like鈥� measure that combines temperature and humidity.
Last weekend鈥檚 record temps jacked up the average heat index into a record for May, according to Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami鈥檚 Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science.
鈥淭he type of heat and humidity we had this weekend would鈥檝e been exceptional even in another three months,鈥� said McNoldy. 鈥淭hese temperatures in May are completely off the charts.鈥�
McNoldy created an online chart that updates daily with the heat index and the reading already rival or top typical dead-of-summer marks.
Aside from crazy-2023, the heat index has ALREADY spent more time above the 108掳F threshold (and tied for the most at 110掳+) in than in *any other entire year*. And it's not even June yet. 馃く馃サ
— Brian McNoldy (@BMcNoldy)
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Usually, the hottest time of the year is the first and second weeks of August but this weekend temperatures peaked at 112 degrees heat index 鈥� that鈥檚 a stunning six degrees hotter than any previous May heat index recorded.
Early-season heat events have some of the highest rates of heat illness and heat-related deaths because people are not prepared for it. Nearly 1,200 people die from heat every year, according to NOAA, and record-breaking heat waves fueled by climate change add to that threat.
Climate change makes things like these record highs more likely. But over the weekend McNoldy said there was also the 鈥減erfect combination鈥� of ridge pressure (where air sinks and warms), fewer clouds and moist air coming in from the southwest.
Other records were broken over the weekend too. Sunday鈥檚 nighttime temperatures averaged to 89 degrees. That is a tie for the third-highest daily nighttime average temperature ever recorded in Miami, and that鈥檚 never happened as soon as May.
As of Monday, there had also been four new high daily average temperature records and record-high humidity levels in the past five days.
The National Weather Service is predicting that the record-breaking heat will ease in the coming week, thanks in part to the increasing relief of rain. But it also signals the potential for another scorching summer ahead. Summer 2023 was the hottest on record in Miami.
鈥淲hat this looks like for June, July, August? Who knows,鈥� McNoldy said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 not off to a promising start.鈥�
This story was produced in partnership with the Florida Climate Reporting Network, a multi-newsroom initiative founded by the Miami Herald, the South Florida Sun Sentinel, The Palm Beach Post, the Orlando Sentinel, 港澳天下彩Public Media and the Tampa Bay Times.
