Heat — Coastal Kenedy, Texas

2023-09-22 · Coastal Kenedy, Texas

Event narrative

The Cameron County Airport Automated Surface Observing System recorded just under three hours of apparent temperature of 111 or higher, with values peaking at 114 degrees. At Kingsville Naval Air Station - a location where heat index values run a bit hot compared with surrounding locations - the apparent temperature reached just below 116 degrees, and was between 113 and 115 between 130 and 430 PM CDT. Using a lower value based on locations near the coast, it can be assumed that Coastal Kenedy County reached or just exceeded 111 degrees.

Wider weather episode

The unrelenting pattern known as 'La Canicula' (the Dog Days of Summer) produced a final round of excessive heat just after astronomical summer (which ended on September 22) of 2023. Afternoon heat index values reached or exceeded 111 for several hours in these areas, and ambient temperatures were at or just below 100 degrees during the period.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1142662. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.