San Antonio braces for brutal heat wave
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San Antonio is bracing for a blistering heat wave this week that could shatter daily temperature records and set a new all-time high for the month of May.
Why it matters: Extreme temperatures are a major public health threat and play a role in droughts and wildfires.
- Hot weather, particularly heat waves, also threatens the reliability of our increasingly strained electricity grid.
Driving the news: Triple-digit heat is expected to arrive Tuesday, marking the city's first 100-degree day of the year — far earlier than average, though not the earliest on record.
- On average, San Antonio doesn't hit 100 until June 30. The earliest it ever happened was in February, back in 1996.
- Our first 100-degree day last year was on May 25.
State of play: Forecasters say highs are expected to surpass the triple digits throughout the work week, and continue through the weekend.
- San Antonio could be one of the hottest big cities in the world with tomorrow's high of 105, according to KSAT's forecast.
Threat level: The National Weather Service recommends Central Texas residents stay out of the sun in the afternoons, keep pets out of parked vehicles, take breaks and stay hydrated.
- Residents can find cooling centers, safety tips and more here.
Context: Human-caused climate change has greatly increased the odds and severity of heat waves and led them to be longer lasting as well.
What's next: Gear up for another warm and dry summer.
- The Climate Prediction Center will release its 3-month outlook today, which will provide an even better understanding of what to expect this summer.