Record heat in Naples leading to daily advisories, warnings

Jun 15, 2023

It's unofficially the "Summer of the Heat Advisory."

So, what the heck. Let's make it official right here and right now.

Is it just me or does there seem to be some kind of hot-weather warning in Collier County every day now? I mean, take last Friday (July 21). Something happened in the meteorological world that has never happened before in one of the sunniest places in the Sunshine State.

The National Weather Service in Miami issued an Excessive Heat Warning.

"An Excessive Heat Warning is triggered when the heat index is forecast to be 113 degrees or greater for two or more hours," said Robert Garcia, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service Miami-South Florida.

Flex those sun-burned muscles, Collier peeps.

Fast-forward to Tuesday (July 24). The high of 97 degrees in Naples tied a record. This made the conditions perfect for a drive around town, breaking in my new toy, a non-contact LCD Multi Dot Laser Infrared Thermometer, by taking readings from some objects to see just how toasty warm they were in the searing July.

Heat records:Weather history: These are Florida's 10 hottest days ever

DID YOU KNOW? It has never hit triple-digits in Naples.

My little odyssey started just after 10 a.m. along the famous stretch of road known as 5th Ave. S, when it was only 88 degrees. It ended just before 2 p.m. at Vanderbilt Beach when my smartphone told me the temperature in Naples was 95 with the heat index (feels like temperature) at 103.