Heat in Coastal Kenedy, Texas

By proxy with observations in coastal Cameron County, the estimated heat index one and two counties north (Willacy and Kenedy) likely achieved similar values for about 7:30 hours from late morning through late afternoon reaching advisory levels (111 to 114F in this case). The Automated Surface Observing System at Cameron Co. Airport in coastal Cameron County reached a peak heat index of 114F during the afternoon; it is likely based on observations at Rincon del San Jose along Laguna Madre (near Kenedy Island) that similar values were achieved just west of there.

As developing Tropical Storm Arthur moved along the middle Texas coast (June 17) and as a degenerated low pressure system along the Louisiana Coast (June 18), very hot air descended on the southern tip of Texas, with record extreme heat index, or feels-like, temperatures for the entire region on the 18th. The high heat index values held on into June 19th, before unsettled weather brought slightly lower temperatures and pockets of rain by the 20th, which ended the short but brutal window of extreme heat.