Heat — Coastal Cameron, Texas

2023-10-04 · Coastal Cameron, Texas

Event narrative

The Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at the Cameron County Airport near Bayview generally reported 2 to 2.5 hours of heat index of 111 or higher, peaking just above 114 degrees just before 2 PM Central Daylight Time.

Wider weather episode

The persistent high pressure ridge known locally as La Canicula prevailed through the first five days of October 2023, with the center of the ridge finally shifting to the Lower Texas coast by October 4th, just ahead of the season's first notable cold front which arrived later on the 5th. The combination of southerly flow in an already hot airmass with monthly area-wide afternoon temperatures in the upper 90s to around 100 allowed heat index to reach advisory conditions (111 or higher) for a few hours across the lower Valley.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1145256. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.