Heat — Inland Kenedy County, Texas

2023-09-05 · Inland Kenedy County, Texas

Event narrative

The Brooks County Airport AWOS reported a heat index of 111 by 4:15 PM CDT, with 111 or higher values persisting until approximately 6:15 PM CDT on September 5th. Extrapolating from the typically high values at Kingsville Naval Air Station (Kleberg County) and accounting for east-southeast inflow bringing higher humidity in from the Gulf, it can be inferred that 3 hours of 111 or higher heat index values occurred across much of Inland Kenedy County, beginning a couple hours earlier (2 PM) and lasting through around 5 PM CDT.

Wider weather episode

The record breaking summer of 2023 just won't give up as high heat and humidity continued to impact the Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas in early September. Southerly flow enhanced by a weak upper trough embedded in the larger La Canicula ridge pushed high humidity into the region, surging heat index to or above 111 degrees for several hours each afternoon from the end of Labor Day through the middle of that week.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1142706. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.