Heat in Southern Hidalgo County, Texas

The Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) sensor at McAllen (KMFE) recorded a little more than 2 hours total of heat index values of 111F or higher between 2 PM and 530 PM CST, though the period was broken by a short break right around 4 PM (values just below 111F). Peak heat index reached just below 112F during this window.

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.