Currently in Miami — July 18, 2023: Record hot stretch

The weather, currently.

The heat index will very likely reach 100 degrees or hotter for a record 38 consecutive days on Wednesday. The previous record was 32 days set in 2020. Hotter still, there’s a good chance for a 106° or hotter heat index on Wednesday, marking the 14th straight day at this level. The previous record longest stretch of 106° feels-like days was 4, set only last year. That’s why even though rain and thunder are likely again on Wednesday and for the rest of the week in South Florida, the biggest story continues to be the unrelenting heat in a year which seems destined to be the hottest in Miami’s history.

El tiempo, actualmente.

Es muy probable que el índice de calor alcance los 100 grados o más durante un récord de 38 días consecutivos el miércoles. El récord anterior era de 32 días establecido en 2020. Peor aún, hay una buena posibilidad de un índice de calor de 106° o más el miércoles, marcando el 14° día consecutivo en este nivel. El récord anterior más largo de días de sensación térmica de 106° era 4, establecido solo el año pasado. Es por eso que, aunque es probable que llueva y truene nuevamente el miércoles y durante el resto de la semana en el sur de Florida, la noticia más importante sigue siendo el calor implacable en un año que parece destinado a ser el más caluroso en la historia de Miami.

—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.

Shortly after midnight on Monday morning it was still a whopping 120°F (48.9°C) at Death Valley in California — the hottest early morning temperature reading in world history.

Here’s what the raw data looked like:

Even though this may not make global headlines, this feels to me like a major global milestone. Public health studies show that excessively hot overnight temperatures cause high death tolls during major heat waves, especially when overnight temperatures fail to fall below 90°F (32.2°C). The human body requires rest at night to recover, especially when subjected to high stress of record heat. Climate change — specifically the added humidity in the air due to increased evaporation rates — causes overnight temperatures to rise at a faster rate than daytime temperatures, worsening this trend.

—Eric Holthaus