Heat — Coastal Willacy, Texas

2023-06-26 · Coastal Willacy, Texas

Event narrative

The Cameron County Airport ASOS reported a heat index of 111 by approximately 230 PM CDT, with 111 or higher values persisting until approximately 430 PM CDT on June 26th. Peak values were just under 113 degrees at 353 PM CDT. By proxy, it can be assumed that these or similar values extended north near the coast (bayside) of Willacy County.

Wider weather episode

The combination of hot to very hot temperatures and high humidity combined to lead to heat criteria across much of the Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas in the later stages of June as a stubborn mid-level area of high pressure refused to let up. For the Rio Grande Valley overall in June, emergency room hospitalizations were up 11 to 18 percent from June 2022 due to heat-related illnesses and incidents. Detailed information on heat-related illnesses (actual numbers of injuries or fatalities) was not known as of the end of August.

There was one known indirect fatality in Cameron County on June 25th, according to one of the hospital systems that serve the area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1117116. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.