Florida predicted to have unusually hot summer
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Florida is likely to face a hotter-than-usual summer, according to new forecasts and research.
Why it matters: Extreme heat is a major public health threat and plays a role in droughts and wildfires.
- Hot weather, particularly when it occurs during prolonged heatwaves, also threatens the reliability of the nation's increasingly strained electricity grid.
The big picture: Everywhere in the Lower 48 — except for North Dakota — is projected to be hotter than average, but with varying odds.
- Florida has a 40% to 50% chance of an unusually hot summer.
Zoom in: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill this month banning local governments from requiring heat-exposure protections, such as mandated breaks, for outdoor workers.
- There are about two million outdoor workers in Florida.
- The average number of deaths caused by heat each year increased by 95% between 2010 and 2022, per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Threat level: The way climate change is altering the character of American summers increasingly stands out, and is one reason to take note given the hotter-than-average outlook.
Yes, but: Anthony Artusa, a meteorologist at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center in Maryland, pushed back against recent media headlines suggesting the lower 48 could see its "hottest summer ever" in 2024.
- "Nevertheless, what [models] do support is an unusually hot summer this year, especially for the South-Central and Western areas of the contiguous U.S., and people should be prepared for this," he said.
The National Weather Service unveiled an expanded "HeatRisk" forecast map, with a color-coded scale aimed at communicating the health risks from heat exposure.