Topline
An early summer heat wave shattered single-day temperature records throughout Texas, breaking a longstanding record in San Antonio and tying an 11-year record in Austin as forecasters warned residents to stay inside, though they’re not the first cities to see new temperature records this summer.
Forecasters warn dangerous heat can cause heat stroke and fainting and advise residents to stay … [+]
Key Facts
Records were smashed across Texas during a heat wave this week, with new daily highs hit in San Antonio (105 degrees on Monday), Corpus Christi (100 degrees on Saturday), and McAllen (107 degrees on Monday), while Austin tied its prior daily record of 106 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
In Laredo, Texas, the temperature hit 115 degrees on Monday, tying an all-time record-high temperature for the city, which it hasn’t hit since 1985—Laredo broke another daily record on June 13 (111 degrees).
Daily heat records since June 1 have stretched into the Northeast, as well: Buffalo set daily temperature records on consecutive days to start off the month (90 degrees), while Syracuse, New York, set a record at 91 degrees on June 1, according to National Weather Service data.
Hartford also saw a daily record on June 2 (94 degrees), beating a record set in 1961 by 3 degrees and Philadelphia narrowly beat a 23-year record on June 2 (95 degrees).
Temperature records also fell in the Midwest: St. Louis saw a new daily record on June 2 (93 degrees), Detroit set two daily records on June 2 and June 3 (90 degrees), Cincinnati broke a record on June 3 that had been set in 1951 (93 degrees), while in Fargo, North Dakota, a daily record fell on June 1, when the temperature hit 97 degrees.
Miami also broke a daily record on June 16, with a temperature of 95 degrees—toppling a record that had stood for 12 years.
What To Watch For
An excessive heat warning from the NWS is in effect for more than half of Texas, including Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, while heat warnings stretch north to Oklahoma, as well as Louisiana and New Mexico. The NWS warns “dangerously hot conditions” will persist through Wednesday, with the heat index—how hot it feels outside when humidity is taken into consideration—expected to reach into the 110s and 120s degrees in some areas. Forecasters also urge residents to stay hydrated in air-conditioned rooms, avoid strenuous outdoor activity and take “extra precautions” when outside.
Tangent
Forecasters expect the early-season heat waves to be a sign of things to come, as a weather phenomenon called El Niño develops, bringing warmer air north, and as scientists warn the effects of climate change from greenhouse gas emissions will continue to drive temperatures upward, prolong drought conditions and make wildfires more frequent and strong. Roughly 1,500 cities and towns in the U.S. broke daily heat records over a 30-day period ending last September, as heat waves spread throughout the U.S., as well as the U.K. and southern Europe. So far this year, a heat wave in China took down single-day records in China, while in the U.K., forecasters are warning of the hottest year on record.
Further Reading
Texas Braces For Scorching Early Summer Heat Wave — Here’s Where Temperatures May Break Records (Forbes)
Sacramento And San Jose Break All-Time Heat Records: These Are The Key Record-Breaking Temperatures For Summer 2022 (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/06/20/austin-and-san-antonio-set-heat-records-here-are-the-record-breaking-cities-this-summer/