Excessive Heat — Starr, Texas

2024-05-26 · Starr, Texas

Event narrative

Rancho Los Comitos (Texas Mesonet) recorded max heat indices between 112-119F for 6 hours, from 2:00-8:00 PM CDT. Heat indices met Excessive Heat Warning criteria for 3 hours, from 4:00-7:00 PM CDT with values between 116-119F on May 26, 2024. La Puerta Remote Automated Weather Station recorded max heat indices between 111-127F for 9 hours, from 11:11 AM-8:11 PM CDT on May 26, 2024. This not only fell within the Heat Advisory criteria range, but also the Excessive Heat range with values between 118-127F for 6 hours, from 1:11-7:11 PM CDT. Please note that the La Puerta site has a high bias, so actual peak heat index values closer to the Rio Grande may have ranged from 119 to 123F.

Wider weather episode

A slightly stronger sub-tropical ridge/heat dome centered over central and southern Mexico returned northward towards the Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas. At five thousand feet above ground, the temperature soared anywhere from 78 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which translated into another short-lived but intense heat wave over the region with surface temperatures rising into the upper 90s to mid 100s from May 26-30. The combination of heat and dewpoint temperatures well into the 70s to around 80, heat indices ranged between a sweltering 111F-126F across parts of Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. The hottest temperatures were once again located from the mid-lower Rio Grande Valley northward along I-69E and I-69C; several hours with values of 116 or higher - considered Excessive Heat - were noted each day in many parts of the region.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1183060. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.