Florida Records One of Its Hottest Summers in History
Florida has experienced one of its top 10 warmest summers on record, with several cities breaking century-old heat benchmarks, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center (SERCC). The summer season, ending meteorologically on August 31, was marked by unusually high temperatures influenced by a strong El Niño, Saharan dust, and persistent westerly winds. Cities like West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale recorded their hottest summers, with average temperatures approximately 2.4°F (1.3°C) above normal. Miami tied its 2023 record for the hottest summer, while Lakeland, Orlando, and Port St. Lucie also reported record-breaking heat. The National Weather Service issued dozens of heat advisories across South Florida due to high humidity, which pushed heat indices to over 100°F (37.8°C) in many areas. 
