'Stifling': Heat spell could peak with all-time record-high temperatures in Tallahassee

Jeff Burlew, Tallahassee Democrat
·2 min read
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Tallahassee could see its all-time heat record melt away this week with high temperatures forecast to hit triple digits.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee is calling for highs of 102 on Wednesday, 105 on Thursday and 103 on Friday. The record for the hottest day on record in the capital city is 105, which was set on June 15, 2011.

On the first official day of summer Tuesday, children dunked their faces into water sprays at Cascades Park, cooling off from the ongoing heat wave.

It’s possible excessive heat advisories and warnings will be issued later in the week, said Eric Bunker, meteorologist with the Weather Service.

“It’s probably going to be pretty stifling,” Bunker said. “Folks who are sensitive to heat should stay inside and those who have to work outside in those conditions should take regular breaks in the shade or inside an air-conditioned place and make sure to stay hydrated with water and/or electrolytes.”

Nathaniel Geiger takes a blast to the face from the splash pad at Imagination Fountain in Cascades Park in Tallahassee, Fla. on Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022, the official first day of summer.
Nathaniel Geiger takes a blast to the face from the splash pad at Imagination Fountain in Cascades Park in Tallahassee, Fla. on Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022, the official first day of summer.

The broiler-like conditions are part of a heat wave that could break records from the Great Lakes to the Deep South, the Weather Service said. The heat is a byproduct of a deep upper-level ridge parked over the central part of the country.

But no storms, right?: How a Florida heat wave is keeping tropical trouble at bay | WeatherTiger

Tallahassee has come close to 100 over the past few weeks, hitting 99 on June 16 and June 18. The high has been at least 95 degrees every day since June 13. Dry air in place on Wednesday will give way to greater moisture on Thursday and Friday, which could push the heat index up.

Relief is expected by the weekend, with highs dropping to the upper 90s on Saturday and the mid-90s by Sunday as rain chances increase.

Hottest days on record

Tallahassee’s all time heat record of 105 was set on June 15, 2011. Before that, Tallahassee hit 104 on five different days:

  • June 24, 1914

  • June 29, 1931

  • July 3, 1931

  • July 15, 1932

  • June 20, 1933 

James McNeely holds his daughter, Madison McNeely, as the two play in a splash pad at Imagination Fountain in Cascades Park in Tallahassee, Fla. on Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022, the official first day of summer. McNeely's other daughter, Abby, and his fiance Olivia Koenig, run up to join the pair.
James McNeely holds his daughter, Madison McNeely, as the two play in a splash pad at Imagination Fountain in Cascades Park in Tallahassee, Fla. on Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022, the official first day of summer. McNeely's other daughter, Abby, and his fiance Olivia Koenig, run up to join the pair.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: How hot is it? Tallahassee may see record high temperatures this week