Heat — Coastal Willacy, Texas

2023-06-20 · Coastal Willacy, Texas

Event narrative

It can be assumed that, by proxy, Coastal Willacy County had at least three hours of heat index at or above 111 degrees. The Cameron County Airport ASOS reported a heat index of 111 as early as 12:30 PM CDT, with 111 or higher values persisting until approximately 5:30 PM CDT on June 20th. Peak values were listed at 113 degrees at 1253 PM. Inland Willacy County, by proxy with the Texas Water Development Board site (TWB67) near Monte Alto, had only around an hour with 111 degree or higher heat index values after the sea breeze arrived late.

Wider weather episode

The combination of hot to very hot temperatures and high humidity combined to lead to continued excessive heat criteria across much of the Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas in mid to late June as a stubborn mid-level area of high pressure (La Canicula, or heat dome) refused to let up.

Local hospitals noted an increase in heat-related emergency room visits during June 2023 when compared with the same period a year earlier, which was also hot but not at the level of 2023. Percentage increases ranged from 11 to 18 percent more visits during the month of June. There was little data on direct casualties (injuries or fatalities) from the excessive heat in mid to late June, though there was one indirect death on June 25th in Cameron County.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1117063. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.