A massive stretch of southwest and west-central Florida is bracing for dangerously high temperatures today. The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay Ruskin issued a formal Heat Advisory early Thursday morning, warning that the combined temperature and humidity will feel as hot as 110 degrees out there.
The heat advisory officially kicks in at 11:00 AM this morning and will run through the evening until 8:00 PM EDT.
The advisory has a huge footprint across the region, covering both coastal and inland areas. Residents in Sumter, Pinellas, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties will experience peak heat.
The warning specifically includes major population centers and towns such as Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Lakeland, Brandon, and Cape Coral, as well as dozens of neighboring communities.
Weather officials noted that the combination of these scorching temperatures and high humidity creates an environment where “heat illnesses” can develop quickly.
Because of the potential danger, meteorologists are urging people throughout the affected areas to adjust their daily routines. The agency released specific guidelines to handle the spike, stating, “Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.”
For those who absolutely have to be outdoors today, the NWS suggests wearing lightweight, loose-fitting clothes and shifting any heavy labor or workouts to the cooler early morning or late evening hours. They also emphasized the importance of monitoring yourself and others, advising everyone to “take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
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