Heat Wave

Weather

Heat danger! Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke

Irene Sans

Heat deaths continue to rise. Heat-related deaths doubled from 1999 to 2023, with 21,518 deaths recorded during that period. There is a difference between stroke and exhaustion; learn the signs.

A drought is a prolonged period with little to no rainfall, leading to water shortages in a region. The air temperature can be hot or cold. A heat wave is usually just a few days of air temperatures far warmer than expected in a region during any given time of year. The air can contain a lot of moisture, and be humid, or just the opposite, described as "dry heat." Whatever the characteristics of the heat wave, it can worsen the impacts of a drought due to increased heat stress and a greater water demand. Despite a shorter-term duration, a heat wave can compound the bad things about a drought and cause more harm to man and the environment.

Environment

Warm temperatures in store after heat dome parked over worst drought in Florida in 25 years

Tom Bayles

New research discovered an existing drought, like the one in South Florida since January, can lengthen heat waves, like the one parked over Florida, a North Carolina weather researcher found.

Weather

Florida's hot! Where and how soon will the rain and storms return?

Irene Sans

Record heat continues for many across Florida. The forecast shows some breaks, with the chance for more storms to build, but more heat returns for Memorial Day.

Transportation

Southwest Florida International Airport has second best April; Florida tourism hits record levels

WGCU Staff

April saw nearly 1.2 million passengers go through Southwest Florida International Airport, an increase from the April 2024 passenger count, but a decrease for year-over-year statistics.The Lee County Port Authority says that the April number – 1.178 million passengers -- was the second-best April in the history of the airport.