Dangerous, early-season heat in Florida made five times more likely by climate change

Florida is expected to experience dangerous early-season heat from May 14-16, 2024, with temperatures exceeding 90°F and heat index values between 100°F and 105°F. Human-caused climate change has made these conditions more than five times more likely, as indicated by a Climate Shift Index (CSI) level of 5 in Central and Southern Florida. Approximately 17 million people are expected to experience at least one day of CSI level 5 heat. The event is characterized by high humidity and overnight lows 5°-10°F above average, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and mortality, particularly for those without effective cooling.

• Human-caused climate change has increased the likelihood of the early-season heat event in Florida by more than five times.
• Between May 14-16, 2024, much of Florida is forecast to have temperatures above 90°F and heat index values ranging from 100°F to 105°F.
• Approximately 17 million residents of Florida will experience at least one day where the Climate Shift Index (CSI) reaches level 5, signifying an exceptional climate change event.
• Nighttime temperatures are expected to be 5°-10°F above average, with Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Naples potentially seeing lows near or above 80°F.
• The National Weather Service’s HeatRisk scale classifies the heat as category 2 (moderate) to 4 (extreme) for much of the state, with category 4 heat posing a risk to anyone without adequate hydration or cooling.

APA

Climate Central (2024). Dangerous, early-season heat in Florida made five times more likely by climate change. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-shift-index-alert/climate-shift-index-alert-florida-may-2024

Chicago

Climate Central. Dangerous, early-season heat in Florida made five times more likely by climate change. 2024. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-shift-index-alert/climate-shift-index-alert-florida-may-2024.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=Dangerous, early-season heat in Florida made five times more likely by climate change |date=13 May 2024 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-shift-index-alert/climate-shift-index-alert-florida-may-2024 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral2024dangerous, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{Dangerous, early-season heat in Florida made five times more likely by climate change}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2024}, month = may, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-shift-index-alert/climate-shift-index-alert-florida-may-2024}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }