Last Updated: Wednesday, 12:09 p.m.
Wednesday update: The National Weather Service is warning of excessive and dangerous heat again, with the heat index reaching 117 in the shade in the Flagler-Palm Coast region on Wednesday, which may be the summer’s highest reading yet. The dangerous heat potential, with index readings of up to 120, will continue not only to the end of the week, as originally forecast, but through at least the early portion of next week.
The warnings are in effect daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There may be brief, scattered cooling periods as thunderstorms roll through the area Thursday afternoon.
The Flagler Health Department issued a heat advisory Tuesday afternoon that it later inexplicably recalled. “With temperatures soaring and heat indexes reaching dangerous levels, it is important to prioritize the well-being of individuals and communities,” the advisory stated. “Avoid direct sunlight and long exposure to the sun. Spend time in air-conditioned environments. If you do not have access to air conditioning, consider visiting public buildings or
public spaces with shade. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-colored clothing to help your body regulate its temperature. Protect your head and face with a wide-brimmed hat and use sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Minimize outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day. If you must be outside, take frequent breaks in shaded areas and avoid strenuous physical exertion.”
The earlier story is below.
Aug. 7–An excessive heat warning is in effect today in inland and coastal Flagler County, including Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The warning means that dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 115 are expected, according to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville. The heat ide value applies in the shade. Flagler County Emergency management puts the range of the heat index between 112 and 117.
The forecast for the rest of the week is not much different: as of today, the heat index for Flagler-Palm Coast is expected to range between 114 and 116 every day at least through Friday.
Actual highs are expected in the mid-90 range. But the heat index is the heat your body will feel when exposed to the combination of temperature and humidity. The body has a natural ability to reduce its temperature by perspiring. But high humidity hampers perspiration’s ability to evaporate, thus reducing the body’s ability to regulate its temperature.
Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses–heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke–particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. The Weather Service urges residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out ff the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.
The temperatures are a direct reflection of a warming planet due to human activity, on the heels of the hottest month ever in July, around the globe. The previous record was set in July 2019. Heat records have been broken routinely since 1980, with accelerating intensity.
In mid-July, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that “water temperatures throughout the Gulf of Mexico and in the Caribbean Sea have been approximately 1.8-5.4˚F (1-3˚C) warmer than normal. Temperatures around Southern Florida are the warmest on record (going back to 1981).” That has raised concerns about hurricane season, which is moving toward its peak period in September.
For now there is no tropical storm activity in the forecast for the next 48 hours. Ocean heat is putting corals in South Florida in extreme danger. Itw on;t take much: “If the heat stress does not subside, the coral will die,” NOAA reports. “Mortality becomes likely if the corals experience ocean temperatures of 1°C greater than the historical maximum monthly average for two months, or 2°C greater than the historical maximum monthly average for one month.
DontsayRon says
Graphs are woke. Good thing repubs dont believe in science and sabatoge any effort to do absolutely anything about it. Exxon’s own scientist predicted this perfectly in the 1970’s. Wet bulb temps are the new normal. Wait till you see what comes next… Dont worry folks we are going to do absolutely nothing about it, now go back to work.
Laurel says
Being raised in South Florida definitely had it’s advantages, we had a respect for heat. As kids, we were always near water. My family had a pool, my best friend had a pool, we were within a bike’s ride to a community pool, we had the Swimming Hall of Fame pool, and of course, the beach. We had sprinklers, the hose, a Slip ‘n’ Slide and lived in bathing suits. We swam in the local canal.
The worst were nights. The bed would get hot from my body, so I’d roll over. When that area got hot, I rolled back but the first area was still hot. It was an amazing, happy day when we got a wall banger!
There was no a/c in school until I got into the 11th grade, but we were out for the summer through the worst of it.
That being said, don’t think you can beat it working in the heat. Don’t try to macho your way through it. Walk in the shade when possible. Walk in the malls. Spend the day at the library reading a good book. Stay indoors. Do NOT underestimate a heat stroke, you only have one chance to survive it. Our bodies were not made to try to regulate triple digit temperatures, just as our bodies are not able to withstand hypothermia, it cannot withstand hyperthermia. Stay smart and stay cool!
oldtimer says
Reminds me of fun times in the Middle East and SE Asia
jeffery c. seib says
Due to the overwhelming increases worldwide in the use of fossil fuels and the rampant destruction of the rain forests and green vegetation everywhere during the last century and continuing at even greater rates now we are facing a world that we have an accurate glimpse of the future right now. Nobody gives a darn, but this right now is the world our children will inherit and of course the temperature increases as the planet warms to a point where life struggles. No one has the guts to stand up and shout that we really do need to add sustainable energy sources to the energy mix in the amount of 25 to 50% to even slow this train crash down. How about this scenario for Florida, with all the new people moving in, temperatures rising to new records so much that our energy systems can’t handle the amounts and the power goes off.
Percy's mother says
The heat index is not the TRUE temperature.
The heat index is a composite of the actual temperature PLUS humidity thus making it FEEL like 117 or 118.
The actual temperature is in the 90s. That 90s temp plus the humidity combines to make it FEEL LIKE (AKA HEAT INDEX) 117 or 118 but again, the heat index is not the actual thermometer temperature.
In actuality, the TRUE thermometer temperature hasn’t changed much in many years.
It’s really the psychology of the reporting from actual thermometer temperature to HEAD INDEX reporting that’s creating a psychological mind warp making people think its getting hotter and hotter.
Years ago, meteorologists reported the ACTUAL thermometer temperature. It’s only recently that HEAT INDEX has become a buzzword. There’s a huge difference between the two terms.
Nevertheless, it’s extremely hot outside, but it’s AUGUST IN FLORIDA, which is one of the hottest months of the year along with SEPTEMBER.
I remember coming back from Iceland 20 years ago AT THE END OF AUGUST. After spending 3 weeks in an upwardly mobile and very cosmopolitan Iceland in August, I walked out of the airport in Orlando into an OVEN. The ACTUAL TEMP was 105 (NOT HEAT INDEX). That’s 20 years ago.
So in my view, if you look at the ACTUAL thermometer reading, it’s really in the high 90s.
No-no no says
You can’t fix STUPID
Laurel says
Percy’s mother: Yes, we know what heat index means, thanks anyway. September is not one of the hottest months, July and August are the two hottest months whereas in September, the temps begin to drop as does the humidity. You know, actual temperature and heat indexes.
I was born and raised in Florida, lived here 71 years, and I feel the difference. We are in the midst of climate change. It’s real.
What’s up with all the caps, just drama?
Percy's mother (uncapitalized) says
Laurel,
Just to clarify my background, and to assure you I know what I’m talking about:
1. I was living and working in Miami all the way back in 1972. Actually in 1972 I was driving quite a way in rush hour traffic all the way down 95 and across the Rickenbacker Causeway (1972) for my job.
2. I obtained a master’s degree in environmental science from Florida International University, Tamiami Trail Campus. Since you were born and grew up in Miami, you will know that State of Florida university and its location.
2. Some of the coursework I had to take to obtain a masters degree in environmental science at FIU (and you can look it up on their online catalog), was Environment and climate, Florida Ecology and that course included a weekly field trip out into the wild to collect various Florida native plants. Some of the locations we visited as just part of that particular course were: The Everglades (in July) with hoards of mosquitos but spent the entire day in blazing sun to collect Florida native plants specific to that ecosystem, The Keys to collect various underwater plants and that required a day primarily underwater individually collecting that underwater plant material, Key Biscayne to collect specific plant material for that location, among many other locations. Part of the final exam included viewing a leaf from any of the hundreds of specimens we’d collected and identifying its specific scientific name. and that was a timed exam (with all leaves from plant material spread carefully on long lab tables in the science department).
In addition to Florida ecology, another course requirement was “Environmental Building Construction” as well as Environmental landscaping with Florida Natives along with many more courses.
For your benefit, I did not capitalize anything in this post.
So since I was living and working in Miami and Miami Beach in the early 1970s, I may have something to contribute in addition to what you think you may know.
dave says
Some history: Actual temperatures not a calculated heat index.
The three highest temperature recorded in Florida.
June 29, 1931 was a hot day in Monticello in Jefferson County, 109 actual degrees
June 24, 1930 Walton County , 107 actual degrees
Aug. 14, 1993 Putnam County 107 actual degrees
So these high temps are nothing new to Fla. Its mother Nature doing what she does.
FlaglerLive says
The commenter is inaccurate, and is denying the science of climate change. The changes are not signaled (or disproved) by single-day records, but by trends. Florida cities are breaking records for hottest month and hottest year on record as are innumerable other regions; heat waves are more prolonged, compounding the intensity; and oceans offshore at at record-heat levels. These temperatures very much are new to Florida, and indeed to the globe, as made clear by the NOAA graph that goes with this article. Do not use this site to deny science or spread disinformation.
dave says
What I stated is pure fact. What you stated is pure fact. Stop reading something into your argument to move an narrative. I agree with your climate change position, but what I noted is that we in this state have had high temps, not heat indexes way before we encountered this heat wave. That’s it nothing more.
Laurel says
Dave: You picked three days out of several years to make your point that this is normal. What’s happening now is this heat is effecting us for several days in a row, for weeks at a time, which is increasing every year. This is clearly not normal. This is not Mother Nature, this is us, and it’s accelerating at a rate unknown in history.
Look at a photo of the Earth, showing its amazingly thin atmosphere, and explain to me how billions of humans, polluting the Earth daily, emitting gasses into that thin atmosphere, trapping in the heat from the sun, does not effect our Earth. You started with logic, please continue.
dave says
All I’m saying is that actual high temps are and have been in Fla long before this heat wave has hit. Its NOT inaccurate its pure fact. What is going on NOW is climate change and the impact humans have had, but we had high heat in the past. People need to stop reading into something that is not there.
Laurel says
Dave: I don’t disagree. It’s the way you wrote it made it seem that you were stating what we are going though is nothing new. Being from South Florida, the heat up here in North Florida is worse this year than we have experienced in the previous years we have lived here. It’s noticeable. Something is there.
You are correct in your statement that heat index is a relatively new way to report heat.
Ben Hogarth says
Dave,
In science, we call this “cherry-picking.” However, you are no scientist, and the 3 data points you provided are so reductive to a specific time and place in history, one can only assume you went out of your way to google these figures to provide some sort of fact that might lead lesser informed persons to an alternative theory than climate change. It’s disingenuous AT BEST… malicious misinformation at worst.
As FlaglerLive already indicated, we look at trend data and extrapolate as far out in time and space as possible to establish patterns of amplitudes and change-over-time. You can go to any point in time and find one day in a specific location that may have been “warmer” than an average day today – that is totally irrelevant to the science we are discussing.
Mother nature isn’t “doing what she does.” There is no ubiquitous intelligence known as “mother nature.” Nature, as you ascribe it, is actually a system of consequence – of cause and effect. The effects are determined (even if we can’t see the scientific correlations) by variables that are both naturally inherent to the universe and human-induced. In the case of the horrifying (trend) divergences we are seeing in the atmospheric sciences, it is functionally IMPOSSIBLE at this point for the effects to have been caused by purely natural phenomena. You don’t get a more than 6-sigma (six standards of) deviation from a normal mean (data average) in a natural system without some cataclysmic (sizable) event. No such event is occurring from natural processes that is causing the deviations in the data. What has been PROVEN as correlated and a contributing factor (at the very least) is the introduction of carbonic acid (CO2), methane (CH2), and nitrous oxide (NO) into the atmosphere by human point source pollution.
Period. The End.
No n says
Again, you can’t fix stupid, stop debating, you can’t fix stupid.
You want to save yourselves, go north, as in Canada.
B brent says
This is from all the developments. Destruction of Woodlands and trees. The woods create a natural canopy of shade , pure oxygen, co2 filters, and cooler temperatures. In their place , Palm Coast is replacing it with asphalt and rooftops.