
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
It's dangerously hot outside. And the heat isn't going away anytime soon.
Driving the news: San Antonio remains under an excessive heat warning until at least 9pm Thursday, per the National Weather Service.
- Highs are forecast between 102° and 103° through Tuesday, and it will feel even hotter.
Why it matters: The long duration of this heat wave increases public health dangers, Axios' Andrew Freedman reports.
Context: Hot days aren't unusual in Texas, but they fit into a larger global trend of heat records set this summer.
- Scientists are already warning that 2023 could be the hottest year on record.
The big picture: Cities in the Southwest that are synonymous with heat are poised to break daily, monthly and potentially even all-time high temperature records, as well as set milestones for the longest streak of exceptionally hot days.
By the numbers: The San Antonio Fire Department responded to 95 calls for heat-related medical emergencies between July 1 and Wednesday morning, spokesperson Joe Arrington tells Axios.
- That's down from 121 calls in the same period last year.
Yes, but: Calls were up last month. There were 297 calls for heat-related medical emergencies in June, up from 180 calls in June 2022, Arrington says.
Threat level: Heat waves are a quiet killer, with deaths often not tallied until well after the extreme weather event has subsided.
Of note: The state's power grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, hasn't asked Texans to conserve energy.
- There was enough energy to meet demand as of Wednesday afternoon.
Zoom out: Last month was the world's hottest June on record, surpassing the last global record in June 2019, per CNN.
- The nine hottest Junes have occurred in the last nine years.
What's next: You should avoid going outside during the hottest parts of the day, and hydrate.
- The city has public buildings where you can stay cool inside, and tips to beat the heat.

Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios San Antonio.
More San Antonio stories
No stories could be found

Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios San Antonio.