Just like every summer, it has been hot and humid here in Florida, but not quite as hot as some years in the past. 

What You Need To Know

  • The summers of 1998 and 1980 saw the highest heat index values

  • So far, we haven’t seen the same level of heat and humidity as last summer

  • We’ve seen six days this summer with heat index values at or above 108 degrees in Tampa

We’re about halfway through the summer of 2023 and we have already seen 32 days with a heat index of 100 degrees or higher in Tampa, just a little behind last year’s pace this far into summer.

However, the peak of the heat and humidity is typically around the end of July and early August, so we have a long way to go.

(NOAA)

Summers with the highest heat index values

The highest heat index ever recorded in Tampa was 118 degrees, and it happened twice, once on Aug. 6, 2000 and again on Aug. 1, 1986.

1998 saw the most days with heat index values at or above 100 degrees with 92 days. There were 38 days with a heat index at or above 108 degrees.

Last summer, 2022, was the hottest on record in terms of actual air temperature, but the humidity was not as high as 1998.

For instance, last summer the heat index was at or above 108 degrees on just 14 days, far shy of 1998’s 38 days.

1980 came in second for heat index values that high with 36 days.

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