Heat Index

Lee County encourages the community to monitor conditions amid high heat.

County encourages community to monitor conditions amid high heat.

Dangerous heat is coming to North Florida and the Panhandle this weekend; the heat risk moves south next week.

It’s the dog days of summer in SWFL. This means that children, seniors and people who work in the elements can be subjected to temperatures that can lead to heat related health risks.

According to National Weather Service figures, heat killed 199 Americans last year. That is more than double the second leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, flooding, which killed 89 Americans in 2024. The danger posed by weather events like tornadoes, hurricanes and lightning is straightforward, but many people do not accurately perceive the level of risk posed by heat. A day with dangerous heat will look like an average sunny day, and sometimes the symptoms of heat illness are initially ignored.

Tampa broke the all-time record high temperature on Sunday. There are at least 10 stations in Florida that could either break or tie the high records on Monday. How much longer?

The immediate concern this weekend will be the heat, which is expected to be oppressive, intense, and dangerous. Afternoon showers are not expected Saturday due to a “sprawling plume of Saharan dust” blanketing South Florida.

Much of Florida takes a break from the storms, and Saharan dust takes over, making the temperatures soar.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory today.

Heat indices are at least 103°F across much of Florida, with lower-than-average storm chances.