Why did Miami, Florida, hit 100 degrees for only the second time on record?
It's hot in Florida, right? It is, but coastal cities in Florida eschew the 100-degree mark because of the state's location.
A plume of Saharan dust spread across South Florida, creating a hazy sky and reducing visibility. Traffic cameras captured the dusty conditions around Miami-Dade County on July 8.
The high temperature in Miami on Tuesday, Aug. 18 reached 100 degrees, for only the second time in the history books.
For many residents in the southern United States, that stat may not sound very impressive, as temperatures spike above 100 degrees routinely in the Desert Southwest, Texas and the Southeast. But Florida, surrounded by cooler water and sea breezes, has a hard time reaching the triple-digit mark, especially near the coast.
Ocean Drive on a sunny morning, Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Miami is experiencing its third-hottest August on record so far this month, with an average temperature of 86 degrees. Tuesday's 100-degree reading is the second on record in the city. The last 100-degree day happened on July 21, 1942.
How did Miami achieve 100° this week? AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said the recent drought helped.
"There was a light wind from the west to northwest on Tuesday afternoon, so the breeze wasn't coming off the cooler offshore waters. In addition to the heat dome that has built over Florida, it has been very dry in Miami this month, with less than a tenth of an inch of rain from Aug. 7 to Aug. 18," Pydynowski said.
"Without the moisture in the ground," he continued. "The drier ground loses its ability to cool via evaporation. Thus, all the solar energy and heat go directly into heating the soil and warming the air above it."
Which city sees the most 100-degree days?
Across the nation, the number of 100-degree days varies widely, according to data from the National Weather Service's ACIS climate system, which has records back to the 1800s. Seattle and San Francisco have fewer than 10 days over 100, while Phoenix has reported 12,495 days. Minneapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York have recorded between 61 and 68 days, while Raleigh, North Carolina, has experienced 164. Tampa, Florida, has only reached 100 degrees once.
Miami is in no danger of breaking the record again any time soon.
"Temperatures will be closer to historical averages this weekend into early next week, with thunderstorm chances returning to the forecast as well," Pydynowski said.
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