Heat — Coastal Cameron, Texas

2024-08-21 · Coastal Cameron, Texas

Event narrative

The Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) sensor near Bayview (KPIL) recorded a peak heat index of 115F at around 1 PM CST, with around 2 hours at or above 111F between roughly 1230 and 230 PM CST.

Wider weather episode

The strong atmospheric pattern known as La Canicula, which features a high pressure ridge or heat dome, combined with sufficient surface moisture from light southeast winds to provide several hours of heat index (apparent temperature) at or above 111F each afternoon for several hours in portions of Cameron and southern Hidalgo County. Other locations, including Willacy, Brooks, and Kenedy County, touched 111 for an hour or less, which is shy of local criteria for a heat event (111 or higher for at least 2 hours).

There were no known direct injuries or fatalities from the heat, though local hospitalization records for the May through August period showed another year of high admittance rates due to heat-related stress.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1214258. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.