Currently in Miami — July 12, 2023: Even the water is hot

The weather, currently.

Among the many highlights (or should I say lowlights) of the heatwave over the past two weeks is the remarkably hot water that’s currently surrounding South Florida. Water temperatures in the Florida Keys are in the mid to upper 90s. In Miami proper, at Virginia Key, the water temperature is 3 degrees hotter than normal for this time of the year. When temperatures soar each midday, we’re simply not getting any relief from the normally-cooler ocean. Highs will continue to reach the mid-90s, with Heat Advisories being issued daily for feels-like readings of up to around 110 °F. Wednesday will be mostly sunny before scattered to numerous showers return to the area starting as early as Thursday.

El tiempo, actualmente.

Entre los muchos aspectos destacados (o debería decir aspectos negativos) de la ola de calor de las últimas dos semanas se encuentra el agua notablemente caliente que actualmente rodea el sur de Florida. La temperatura del agua en los Cayos de Florida está en el rango medio y algo de los 90. En Virginia Key, parte de Miami, la temperatura del agua está 3 grados más alta de lo normal para esta época del año. Cuando las temperaturas se disparan cada mediodía, simplemente no obtenemos ningún alivio del océano normalmente más fresco. Las máximas seguirán llegando al rango medio de los 90, con Advertencias de Calor emitidas diariamente debido a la sensación de hasta alrededor de 110 °F. El miércoles estará mayormente soleado antes de que dispersos a numerosos aguaceros regresen al área a partir del jueves.

—John Morales

What you can do, currently.

The climate emergency doesn’t take the summer off. In fact — as we’ve been reporting — we’re heading into an El Niño that could challenge historical records and is already supercharging weather and climate impacts around the world.

When people understand the weather they are experiencing is caused by climate change it creates a more compelling call to action to do something about it.

If these emails mean something important to you — and more importantly, if the idea of being part of a community that’s building a weather service for the climate emergency means something important to you — please chip in just $5 a month to continue making this service possible.

Thank you!!

What you need to know, currently.

Southern California will be the epicenter of one of the most intense heat waves ever recorded in the US Southwest this week.

Temperatures in Death Valley are expected to reach 130°F (54.4°C), challenging an all-time world record. The duration and intensity of this particular heat wave is also giving authorities caution, with the National Weather Service’s excessive heat outlook reaching ‘extreme’ for areas just inland of Los Angeles.

The heat wave comes courtesy of an especially strong high pressure system, which will act to dry out the atmosphere and cause additional heating due to descending air across the region. The name for this phenomenon is a heat dome, which can be self-reinforcing if it persists over the same region for a long enough period of time.

The California Department of Public Health has helpful information on how to stay cool — and safe — in this deadly heat.

—Eric Holthaus