Over the course of a dry, scorching summer in Florida, several South Florida cities set new records for summer heat.
In southeast Florida, daily average temperatures from June through August soared to No. 1 in the history books, according to data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center (SERCC).
West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale both broke summer heat records dating back more than 100 years with averaged temperatures that were about 2.4 degrees warmer than normal. West Palm Beach had 81 days of temperatures at or above 90 degrees, which is above the normal total of 55 days.
Miami tied 2023 for its hottest summer. The National Weather Service in Miami issued 37 heat advisories for Miami-Dade and Broward counties June through August. Twenty-seven advisories were issued in Palm Beach County.
“Quite simply, it was an unusually hot and dry summer across South Florida,” said Robert Molleda, National Weather Service Meteorologist in Charge, in a report released Tuesday, Sept. 1. “While no single weather feature can be attributed, our region experienced trends similar to those observed over much of the Caribbean region, a common feature during El Niño episodes in the summer.”
When will Florida begin to cool?
According to a temperature outlook by the Climate Prediction Center, much of the southeast United States, including Florida, is likely to see temperatures “above” normal from Sept. 10 to Sept. 16.
“Those looking for relief from the summer-long heat and humidity typically have to wait until early or mid-October for the first noticeable cold front to bring cooler and less humid air into the region, with more substantial lowering of temperatures into the 50s not normally observed until late October or November,” Molleda said. “This means that summer-like heat and humidity often linger will into October.”
Meteorological fall begins Sept. 1, but astronomical fall won’t start this year until the autumnal equinox on Sept. 22.
Contributing factors to the extreme heat in Florida
Average temperatures are on the rise due to climate change. Additionally, El Niño, a phenomenon that results from a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, can create a prevailing strong area of subtropical high pressure near or over Florida and the northern Caribbean Sea, said Molleda, who is based in Miami.
The high pressure led to sinking air which warms and dries as it falls, zapping away clouds, increasing sunshine and reducing the chances for cooling rain showers.
This year’s El Niño is forecast to grow to a “historic event” that could surpass the strength of previous El Nionos dating back to 1950, according to the Climate Prediction Center. The Center will release its next El Niño forecast Sept. 10.
“In South Florida, a dry summer usually results in a hotter than normal summer, and 2026 certainly stands out in that respect,” Molleda said.
Kimberly Miller is a journalist for the USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA. She covers weather, the environment and critters as the Embracing Florida reporter. Sarah Perkel is a South Florida Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network’s Florida Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.