Record Heat Wave For Southeast Florida Fathers Day

June 22, 2009 – The first day of summer 2009 in Central and South Florida came in like gangbusters with record heat. Temperatures were running several degree’s above record highs in many locations along the Florida east coast. It was truly a scorcher of a day, and being poolside or indoors was almost a must.

Vero Beach and Ft Lauderdale both set new hot temp records of 98°F for the day. Now throw in dew points running in the upper 70’s to near 80°F, with very humid conditions, and heat indices were nearing 107°F.

It was truly hot for Fathers Day and the first day of summer over much of Florida. Florida gets hot, but conditions like these are rare and only setup every few years or longer. A heat ridge parked over the state, with extremely high atmospheric moisture levels in the low-levels helped to combine the perfect setup for a South Florida heat wave. Even the Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Miami had some comments about the current heat activity in their morning area forecast discussion.

THIS COULD REALLY BE ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS TODAY. YESTERDAY SAW RECORD HIGHS ALL UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST…WITH FT. LAUDERDALE HITTING THE ALL TIME RECORD HIGH FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE…98F.

PLENTY OF SUN IS EXPECTED TODAY WITH JUST SOME HIGH CIRRUS (AS WAS THE CASE YESTERDAY). GIVEN THIS…AND THE WARM AIR ADVECTION/HOT RIDGE AXIS OVERHEAD THIS AFTERNOON…DECIDED TO INCREASE TEMPS ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST…TO LEVELS THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER FORECAST FOR IN SOUTH FL.

Today is shaping up to be a carbon copy of Fathers Day with expected record highs and very dangerous temperatures for folks outside and for older residents of South Florida. Second day in a row with high heat advisories that run until 7:00pm ET.

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA HIGHS OF NEAR 100 WITH HEAT INDICES AROUND 110 ACROSS THE EAST COAST METRO. A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE EAST COAST METRO DUE TO THESE EXTREME TEMPERATURES.

It’s very important to drink plenty of fluids and the first signs of feeling overheated, head indoors as soon as possible. Also be sure to check on elderly residents in your community that you are aware, and just make sure they are ok in this Florida heat wave of June 2009. Stay cool out there!