High temperatures persisted in Florida on Thursday, with cities like Tampa, Sarasota-Bradenton, and Punta Gorda setting daily temperature records. The National Weather Service reported that highs reached 98 degrees in Tampa, 99 in Sarasota-Bradenton, and 101 in Punta Gorda. Other cities like St. Pete and Fort Myers also experienced record temperatures. Chief meteorologist Paul Dellegatto described the weather in Southwest Florida as “about as hot as we can get.” The high temperatures were coupled with fairly low humidity due to dew points in the low 60s, making the heat more tolerable.
Florida residents experienced record-breaking temperatures throughout the state during the past week, marking the beginning of the summer season. Winter Haven and Brooksville broke daily records on Wednesday, with temperatures reaching 99 and 97 degrees respectively. Memorial Day weekend also saw record temperatures in cities like Miami, Orlando, and West Palm Beach. Parts of Texas faced extreme heat with heat indexes surpassing 100 degrees. Temperatures in the mid-60s to 70s were reported in the Tampa Bay area on Thursday night, with rain expected in southwestern Florida on Friday. Highs on Friday were projected to be in the 90s.
The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for the bottom of the Florida peninsula, warning of potential lightning, gusty winds, and locally heavy rainfall. The risk of rip currents and hazardous marine conditions were also highlighted. Counties like Palm Beach, Collier, Broward, and Miami-Dade were under the hazardous outlook. The Farmer’s Almanac’s 12-month outlook for Florida predicted a wet May, followed by a dryer than normal June, and fairly average July and August. July was expected to be slightly hotter than normal.
As the high temperatures continued in Florida, scattered showers were forecasted for South Florida on Friday. The NWS advised caution due to potential hazardous weather conditions, including possible small hail and locally strong to severe wind gusts. An increased risk of rip currents over the east coast into the weekend was also mentioned. The NWS forecasted a 50 percent chance of rain in Tampa and Sarasota on Friday, with highs in the 90s. Overall, the weather in Florida during this period was characterized by record-breaking temperatures and the onset of summer heat.
