Heat — Willacy, Texas

2024-05-08 · Willacy, Texas

Event narrative

Harlingen Valley International Airport (KHRL) recorded max heat indices between 111-118F for 3.5 hours, from 2:52-6:20 PM CDT on May 8, 2024. The Sarita Mesonet station in Kenedy County recorded peak heat index values between 111 and 115F between 2 and 430 PM CST. By proxy, Willacy County likely had similar heat index values (111 to 116) between 1 PM and 5 PM CST.

Wider weather episode

An unseasonably strong sub-tropical ridge/heat dome centered over central and southern Mexico strengthened and shifted northward towards the Rio Grande Valley/Deep South Texas region. Temperatures at around 5,000 feet above the ground soared to 78 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit over the local area. This translated to surface temperatures rising into the upper 90s to mid 100s from May 7-9. Combined with dewpoint temperatures in the 70s to around 80, this produced apparent, or feels-like temperatures, between 111-116F across locations along and east of IH-69C/US 281 from Brooks/Hidalgo County into Cameron, Willacy, and Kenedy County. The hottest temperatures were located from the mid-lower Rio Grande Valley northward along I-69E and I-69C, peaking on May 9th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1166433. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.