Excessive Heat and Heat in Texas, May 26 to 30, 2024

Name: Excessive Heat and Heat in Texas, May 26 to 30, 2024
Start: 2024-05-26T10:30
End: 2024-05-30T15:30
Location: Texas

May 26 to 30, 2024 · NWS BRO · 28 events in 11 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 28 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 28

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BRO wrote it up.

A slightly stronger sub-tropical ridge/heat dome centered over central and southern Mexico returned northward towards the Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas. At five thousand feet above ground, the temperature soared anywhere from 78 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which translated into another short-lived but intense heat wave over the region with surface temperatures rising into the upper 90s to mid 100s from May 26-30. The combination of heat and dewpoint temperatures well into the 70s to around 80, heat indices ranged between a sweltering 111F-126F across parts of Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. The hottest temperatures were once again located from the mid-lower Rio Grande Valley northward along I-69E and I-69C; several hours with values of 116 or higher - considered Excessive Heat - were noted each day in many parts of the region.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Brownsville, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 26, 5:45 AM CST, 4 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 26, 5:45 AM CST, 4 hours 45 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
645 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Today through Monday)
Issued at 307 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024

Key Messages:

* Excessive, Dangerous, Record-Breaking Heat Likely again today
* Triple digit highs expected for Brownsville, Harlingen, and
  McAllen today; Heat Indices will range between 115-124 degrees
* Extreme risk of heat related impacts to anyone spending time
  outdoors and not taking the necessary precautions
* High Risk for Rip Currents expected through Monday

A mid to upper-level ridge anchored over Mexico will continue to
provide strong subsidence across Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande
Valley through the period. Dangerous heat will persist through
Memorial Day with triple-digit temperatures for most inland
locations. Due to steady southeast surface flow, dew points climbing
into the 70s, will support elevated heat index values, which will
encroach eastward. Temperatures and dew points are expected to
increase few degrees today and tomorrow as subsidence strengthens.

Mid-level dry air should mix down this afternoon and again tomorrow
afternoon, so made some slight adjustments to the temperature and
dewpoint grids. These changes should keep daytime high temperatures
and dewpoints a little more realistic and more inline of what has
been observed the past two days. This is also close to the latest
HREF 2m apparent temperature probabilities.

Persistence is the best forecast with Excessive Heat Warnings and
overnight Heat Advisories in place for today and likely continuing
tonight and repeating Monday. To avoid any confusion will not issue
additional heat advisories or warnings and let today's hazards run
their course before reissuing for tonight and Monday.

Some convection may develop over the higher terrain of
Mexico/Sierra Madre and drift towards the Rio Grande Plains Monday
afternoon as a weak shortwave traverses around the periphery of
the 500 mb. The Storm Prediction Center /SPC/ has most of Deep
South Texas in a general thunderstorm outlook for Monday.

The persistence moderate southeast winds over the Gulf of Mexico
will continue to drive a moderate swells towards the Lower Texas
Coast through the period. Therefore, a continuation of a High Rip
Current Risk is expected through Monday.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Monday night through Saturday)
Issued at 307 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024

Key Messages:

- Well above normal temperatures continue through next weekend.
- Medium probability (40-70%) of Heat Advisories everyday.

Latest model trends continue to indicate the center of the
subtropical ridge getting shunted slightly to the south- southwest
as a series of shortwaves track west to east across the Southern
Plains late Tuesday-Friday. This should allow for a minor lowering
of daytime temperatures but don't be fooled, temperatures and
heat indices will remain well above normal and day to day heat
advisories have a medium (40-70%) probability of occurring each
afternoon. The Experimental NWS Heat Risk Index continues to show
Major to Extreme (4-5 out of 5) risk of heat-related impacts
providing increase confidence in the forecast. Overall, high
temperatures to range from near 90 at the local beaches to 105
inland west. Overnight lows do not show any significant downward
trend with a range of 76-82 degrees.

Rain chances  continue to be limited to far western counties Monday
and Tuesday evenings as the weakening ridge and the mid-level
disturbances may trigger isolated Sierra Madre Convection. Model
consensus remains consistent with only 10-20 percent pops over the
the western Ranchlands including portions of Starr County and < 10%
everywhere else. Moisture remains shallow with exception to the
Monday and Tuesday evening out west where some depth to the
moisture profile is the indicator for the isolated convection
chances.

A more pronounced upper trough moving through the northern and
Central Plains next weekend shows a front moving into Central Texas
which may aid in trending down the temperatures another notch while
providing a slighlty better chance of rain.

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 637 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024

A mix of VFR/MVFR ceilings and moderate southeast winds prevail
across Deep South Texas early this morning. Latest satellite
imagery indicates some low cloud decks south of the Rio Grande
Valley over Mexico drifting northward. In addition, current
surface observations suggest some light haze has develop across
portions of the area. Therefore, will mention TEMPO wording
through around 15Z for MVFR ceilings and/or visibilities. VFR
conditions should return to all RGV aerodromes by mid to late morning.
Some intermittent visibility reductions are possible through the
period, as haze/mist could briefly drop visibility to 5 to 6
miles, though confidence is too low to include in the remainder of
TAF period. Moderate winds early this morning will increase and
become gusty later this morning into the afternoon. Low clouds
with MVFR ceilings should return later this evening.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 307 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024

(Today through Monday): An enhanced pressure gradient along
the Lower Texas coast will maintain moderate to fresh southeast
winds and moderate seas. Expect winds to approach but remain just
shy of Small Craft Advisory criteria of 20 knots on the Laguna
Madre during the day shifting over the Gulf waters overnight.

(Monday night through Saturday): A persistent light to moderate
southeast flow and moderate sea regime is indicated for Monday
night through next weekend. Broad surface ridging over the Gulf
waters and modest low pressure troughing extending from the NE
Mexico through the Southern plains to maintain the modest onshore
flow and steady state wave profile. Not anticipating any
significant rainfall but can not rule out a few streamer showers
leading into next weekend.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Issued at 307 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024

Record Highs for today May 26, 2024

Brownsville 98 in 1928 (Forecast high 99)
Harlingen 100 in 1924 (Forecast high 101)
McAllen 102 in 2017 (Forecast high 104)

Record Highs for Monday May 27, 2024

Brownsville 99 in 1973 (Forecast high 100)
Harlingen 100 in 2018 (Forecast high 101) *A break in the climate records
McAllen 107 in 1973 (Forecast high 104)

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BROWNSVILLE             99  82  98  81 /   0   0   0   0
HARLINGEN              101  80 100  78 /   0   0  10  10
MCALLEN                104  82 104  81 /   0   0  10  10
RIO GRANDE CITY        108  81 106  80 /   0  10  20  20
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND      89  83  88  83 /   0   0   0  10
BAYVIEW/PORT ISABEL     96  81  95  80 /   0   0   0  10

&&

.BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Heat Advisory until 11 AM CDT this morning for TXZ248>255-351-
     353>355.

     Excessive Heat Warning from 11 AM this morning to 9 PM CDT this
     evening for TXZ248>255-351-353>355.

     High Rip Current Risk through Monday evening for TXZ451-454-455.

GM...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...63-KC
LONG TERM....59-GB
AVIATION...63-KC

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 excessive heat, 10 heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Excessive Heat, Cameron

When: May 26, 10:30 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Cameron forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 26.152, -97.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (KBRO) recorded max heat indices between 111-119F for 7 hours, from 9:53 AM-4:53 PM CDT on May 26, 2024. Heat indices reached Excessive Heat Warning criteria with values between 116-119F for 5 hours, from 11:53 AM-4:53 PM CDT. Harlingen Valley International Airport (KHRL) recorded max heat indices between 113-119F for 6 hours, from 11:52 AM-5:52 PM CDT on May 26, 2024. Heat indices reached Excessive Heat Warning criteria with values between 116-119F for 4 hours, from 12:52-4:52 PM CDT.

Heat, Inland Kenedy County

When: May 26, 11:25 AM CST to 3:50 PM CST
Where: Inland Kenedy County forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 26.928, -97.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Texas Mesonet site at Sarita recorded nearly four hours with heat index values betwee 111 and 115, with a single peak at 116 at 420 PM CDT. By proxy with the Texas Agriscience Center Mesonet along the western Willacy County line, which had less than an hour of excessive heat values (116) and the west-central Kleberg County site (west of Kingsville) havine about the same amount of time at 116-117, it is inferred that heat is the most appropriate category for this date.

Excessive Heat, Willacy

When: May 26, 11:30 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Willacy forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 26.477, -97.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Harlingen Valley International Airport (KHRL) recorded max heat indices between 113-119F for 6 hours, from 11:52 AM-5:52 PM CDT on May 26, 2024. Heat indices reached Excessive Heat Warning criteria with values between 116-119F for 4 hours, from 12:52-4:52 PM CDT. By proxy, Valley International Airport combined with the Texas AgriScience Center location just west of the Willacy/Hidalgo line, which recorded 116-118F heat index values between 420 and 550 PM, are proxy values used to infer heat index values. Dangerous heat (111F or higher) began approximately one to two hours on either side of the excessive heat conditions.

Heat, Coastal Cameron

When: May 26, 11:30 AM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Coastal Cameron forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 26.152, -97.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Cameron County Airport near Bayview recorded an estimated 5 hours of heat index between 111F and 114F.

Excessive Heat, Southern Hidalgo County

When: May 26, 11:53 AM CST to 5:53 PM CST
Where: Southern Hidalgo County forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 26.397, -98.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

McAllen International Airport (KMFE) recorded max heat indices between 112-125F for 7 hours, from 11:53 AM-6:53 PM CDT on May 26, 2024. Heat indices reached excessive heat criteria with values between 116-125F for 6 hours, from 12:53-6:53 PM CDT. South Texas International Airport, along the northern and southern Hidalgo County line, reached xxx. Weslaco/Mid Valley Airport experienced heat index of 111F or higher form 1230 until 630 PM, with excessive heat (116 or higher) from 345 through 445 PM.

Heat, Coastal Willacy

When: May 26, 12:30 PM CST to 3:30 PM CST
Where: Coastal Willacy forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 26.477, -97.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Cameron County Airport near Bayview recorded an estimated 5 hours of heat index between 111F and 114F. By proxy, and accounting for slightly lower temperatures and heat index in inland Kenedy County, the likely time of dangerous heat (111F to 115F) was one hour less on each side of the observation from Bayview, for coastal Willacy County.

Heat, Zapata

When: May 26, 12:55 PM CST to 7:55 PM CST
Where: Zapata forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 27.001, -99.169 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Zapata recorded max heat indices between 111-116F for 7 hours, from 1:55-8:55 PM CDT on May 26, 2024.

Excessive Heat, Brooks

When: May 26, 12:55 PM CST to 4:15 PM CST
Where: Brooks forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 27.032, -98.219 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Falfurrias (AWOS) recorded max heat indices between 111-128F for 9 hours, from 10:55 AM-7:55 PM CDT on May 26, 2024. However, since May 20th, the location observed higher values in temperature and humidity than surrounding locations, so the peak values and durations are likely too long. The best estimate for Excessive Heat (116F or higher) times are used in this entry, between 1:55 and 5:15 PM.

Excessive Heat, Northern Hidalgo County

When: May 26, 1:55 PM CST to 4:55 PM CST
Where: Northern Hidalgo County forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 26.397, -98.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

South Texas International Airport, 11 miles north of Edinburg and along the north/south Hidalgo County line, recorded max heat indices between 112-120F for 7 hours, from 11:55 AM-6:55 PM CDT on May 26, 2024. Heat indices reached Excessive Heat Warning criteria with values between 116-120F for 3 hours, from 2:55-5:55 PM CDT. Linn-San Manuel Remote Automated Weather Station recorded max heat indices between 111-124F degrees for 9 hours, between 10:46 AM-7:46 PM CDT. Max heat indices fell within Excessive Heat Criteria with values between 116-124F for 7 hours, between 11:46 AM-6:46 PM CDT. Note, however, that this site has a high bias; therefore, the data at South Texas International Airport is accepted as more accurate.

Excessive Heat, Starr

When: May 26, 2:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Starr forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 26.562, -98.738 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Rancho Los Comitos (Texas Mesonet) recorded max heat indices between 112-119F for 6 hours, from 2:00-8:00 PM CDT. Heat indices met Excessive Heat Warning criteria for 3 hours, from 4:00-7:00 PM CDT with values between 116-119F on May 26, 2024. La Puerta Remote Automated Weather Station recorded max heat indices between 111-127F for 9 hours, from 11:11 AM-8:11 PM CDT on May 26, 2024. This not only fell within the Heat Advisory criteria range, but also the Excessive Heat range with values between 118-127F for 6 hours, from 1:11-7:11 PM CDT. Please note that the La Puerta site has a high bias, so actual peak heat index values closer to the Rio Grande may have ranged from 119 to 123F.

Heat, Jim Hogg

When: May 26, 3:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Jim Hogg forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 27.043, -98.697 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hebbronville recorded max heat indices between 111-116F for 3 hours, from 4:00-7:00 PM CDT on May 26, 2024.

Heat, Zapata

When: May 27, 10:55 AM CST to 4:55 PM CST
Where: Zapata forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 27.001, -99.169 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Zapata recorded max heat indices between 112-116F from 11:55 AM-5:55 PM CDT on May 27, 2024.

Excessive Heat, Cameron

When: May 27, 11:53 AM CST to 2:53 PM CST
Where: Cameron forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 26.152, -97.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (KBRO) recorded max heat indices between 114-121F for 6 hours, from 10:53 AM-4:53 PM CDT on May 27, 2024. Heat indices reached Excessive Heat Warning criteria with values between 117-121F for 3 hours, from 12:53-3:53 PM CDT. Harlingen Valley International Airport (KHRL) recorded max heat indices between 113-120F for 4 hours, from 12:52-4:52 PM CDT on May 27, 2024. Excessive Heat Warning criteria with values between 116-120F for a couple of hours, from 1:52-3:52 PM CDT.

Heat, Inland Kenedy County

When: May 27, 12:20 PM CST to 4:40 PM CST
Where: Inland Kenedy County forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 26.928, -97.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Texas Mesonet site at Sarita recorded heat index values between 111 and 114F+ from 120 through 330 PM CDT on May 27th. By proxy with the Mesonet site at the Texas AgriScience Center near the northeast Hidalgo/northwest Willacy line, which had more than four hours of 111F+ but just 1.5 hours between 116 and 119, it is inferred that the majority of inland Kenedy County fell into the dangerous (111-115F), rather than excessive (116F+) heat category.

Excessive Heat, Willacy

When: May 27, 12:30 PM CST to 3:30 PM CST
Where: Willacy forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 26.477, -97.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Harlingen Valley International Airport (KHRL) recorded max heat indices between 113-120F for 4 hours, from 12:52-4:52 PM CDT on May 27, 2024. Excessive heat criteria with values between 116-120F for a couple of hours, from 1:30-3:30 PM CDT. By proxy, and using a reference of the Texas AgriScience Center along the Willacy/Hidalgo line, which had 1.5 hours of heat index between 116 and 119, inland Willacy is assumed to have three hours of excessive heat index values.

Heat, Jim Hogg

When: May 27, 12:50 PM CST to 4:50 PM CST
Where: Jim Hogg forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 27.043, -98.697 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hebbronville recorded max heat indices between 112-114F for 4 hours, from 1:50-5:50 PM CDT on May 27, 2024.

Excessive Heat, Southern Hidalgo County

When: May 27, 12:53 PM CST to 4:53 PM CST
Where: Southern Hidalgo County forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 26.397, -98.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

McAllen International Airport (KMFE) recorded max heat indices between 111-122F for 7 hours, from 11:53 AM-6:53 PM CDT on May 27, 2024. Heat indices reached Excessive Heat Warning criteria with values between 117-122F for 4 hours, from 1:53-5:53 PM CDT. South Texas International Airport (11 miles north of Edinburg, on the north/south Hidalgo County line) recorded max heat indices between 113-120F for 5 hours, from 12:55-5:55 PM CDT on May 27, 2024. Max heat indices fell within Excessive Heat Criteria with values between 116-120F for 3 hours, from 2:55-5:55PM CDT.

Excessive Heat, Northern Hidalgo County

When: May 27, 12:55 PM CST to 4:55 PM CST
Where: Northern Hidalgo County forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 26.397, -98.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

South Texas International Airport, 11 mile north of Edinburg along the north/south Hidalgo County line, recorded max heat indices between 113-120F for 5 hours, from 12:55-5:55 PM CDT on May 27, 2024. Max heat indices fell within Excessive Heat Criteria with values between 116-120F for 3 hours, from 2:55-5:55PM CDT. Linn-San Manuel recorded max heat indices between 112-120F degrees for 6 hours, from 11:46 AM-5:46 PM CDT. Max heat indices fell within Excessive Heat Criteria with values between 116-120F for 4 hours, between 1:46-5:46PM CDT.

Excessive Heat, Brooks

When: May 27, 1:00 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Brooks forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 27.032, -98.219 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Falfurrias (AWOS) recorded max heat indices between 112-123F for 7 hours, from 11:55 AM-6:55 PM CDT on May 27, 2024. Excessive heat values (116F or higher) fell between 118-123F occurred for 3 hours, between 2 and 430 PM CDT. Note that the Brooks Co. Airport AWOS appeared to have high bias issues since mid-May, so actual values and time duration of excessive heat are of shorter duration than shown on the observations.

Excessive Heat, Starr

When: May 27, 1:30 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Starr forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 26.562, -98.738 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Rancho Los Comitos (AWOS) recorded max heat indices between 111-114F for 5 hours, from 2:00-7:00 PM CDT on May 27, 2024. La Puerta Remote Automated Weather Station recorded max heat indices between 112-123F for 7 hours, from 12:11-7:11 PM CDT on May 27, 2024. Heat indices reached Excessive Heat Warning criteria with values between 116-123F for 5 hours, from 1:11-6:11 PM CDT. However, the site tends to have a high bias in temperature and dewpoint, and the likely heat index values were up to 2 or 3 degrees less. By proxy with Rancho Los Comitas, the likely average peak heat index was likely closer to 116 to 118 and occurred from 230 until 5 PM.

Excessive Heat, Starr

When: May 28, 10:11 AM CST to 5:11 PM CST
Where: Starr forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 26.562, -98.738 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

La Puerta (AWOS) recorded max heat indices between 111-122F for 7 hours, from 11:11-6:11 PM CDT on May 28, 2024. Heat indices reached Excessive Heat Warning criteria with values between 117-122F for 3 hours, from 1:11-4:11 PM CDT. Rancho Los Comitos (AWOS) recorded max heat indices between 111-114F for a couple of hours, from 3:00-5:00 PM CDT on May 28, 2024.

Excessive Heat, Cameron

When: May 28, 11:30 AM CST to 2:45 PM CST
Where: Cameron forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 26.152, -97.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (KBRO) recorded max heat indices between 112-118F for 6 hours, from 10:53 AM-4:53 PM CDT on May 28, 2024. Heat indices reached Excessive heat criteria with values between 115-118F for a couple of hours, from 12:53-2:53 PM CDT. Harlingen Valley International Airport (KHRL) recorded max heat indices between 110-120F for 5 hours, from 11:52 AM-4:52 PM CDT on May 28, 2024. Values reached excessive heat criteria (116F or higher) from approximately 1230 until 345 PM.

Excessive Heat, Southern Hidalgo County

When: May 28, 11:30 AM CST to 3:45 PM CST
Where: Southern Hidalgo County forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 26.397, -98.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

McAllen International Airport (KMFE) recorded max heat indices between 111-118F for 7 hours, from 10:53 AM-5:53 PM CDT on May 28, 2024. Excessive heat criteria (116F or higher) were reached from 12:30 PM until approximately 4:45 PM). The South Texas International Airport, 11 miles north of Edinburg and along the north/south Hidalgo County line, recorded 111F of higher heat index values from 1145 AM until 630 PM, with 116F or higher from 2:25 until 5:45 PM.

Excessive Heat, Willacy

When: May 28, 11:46 AM CST to 4:55 PM CST
Where: Willacy forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 26.477, -97.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Harlingen Valley International Airport (KHRL) recorded max heat indices between 110-120F for 5 hours, from 11:52 AM-4:52 PM CDT on May 28, 2024. Values reached excessive heat criteria (116F or higher) from approximately 1230 until 345 PM. By proxy, it can be inferred that southern Willacy County had excessive heat values for a similar time period. Note that the Texas Mesonet site at AgriScience Center recorded 111F or higher heat index from 1255 until 540 PM, with a shorter window (345 until 410 PM) with peak heat index between 116 and 117.6F.

Heat, Inland Kenedy County

When: May 28, 11:55 AM CST to 4:40 PM CST
Where: Inland Kenedy County forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 26.928, -97.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Texas Mesonet site at Sarita reported peak heat index values between 111F and 114F between 1 PM and 430 PM on May 28th. Proxy values from the Texas AgriScience center near the eastern Hidalgo/northwest Willacy line just southwest of the Kenedy line) indicated heat index values between 111 and 117F from 1255 and 540 PM, but 117 was only touched for an estimated 25 minutes between 345 and 410 PM.

Excessive Heat, Northern Hidalgo County

When: May 28, 1:25 PM CST to 2:45 PM CST
Where: Northern Hidalgo County forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 26.397, -98.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The South Texas International Airport, 11 miles north of Edinburg and along the north/south Hidalgo County line, recorded 111F of higher heat index values from 1145 AM until 630 PM, with 116F or higher from 2:25 until 5:45 PM. Linn-San Manuel Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) recorded max heat indices between 116-122F degrees for 5 hours, from 12:46-5:46 PM CDT. These values were considered excessive heat criteria the entire duration. However, the RAWS data have a high bias with temperature and dewpoint compared with surrounding (proxy) observations, so the likely heat index values were lower by a couple degrees. Therefore, the timing from the better calibrated airport site is used here.

Excessive Heat, Brooks

When: May 28, 2:30 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Brooks forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 27.032, -98.219 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Falfurrias (AWOS) recorded max heat indices between 111-119F from 12:55-5:55 PM CDT on May 28, 2024. Excessive heat warning values fell between 116-119F occurred between 2:55-4:55 PM CDT. Note that these values may be up to two degrees two high based on proxy observations and a high bias at the location (temperature and especially dewpoint) since mid May. A better estimate was from around 330 until 530 PM.

Heat, Cameron

When: May 30, 12:52 PM CST to 3:30 PM CST
Where: Cameron forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 26.152, -97.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Automated Surface Observing System at Brownsville had heat index values between 111 and 153 until 430 PM, with a peak value of 115 at 353 PM. Harlingen/Valley International Airport had a slightly lesser duration, but still reached above 111F (352 until 430 PM).

What these are

Excessive Heat: Heat at or above the local excessive heat warning criteria, or heat that caused deaths.
Heat: Heat below excessive heat criteria that still caused deaths, injuries or significant impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2024 Every state in 2024 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, May 2024

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1183059, 1189320, 1183099, 1189330, 1183058, 1189331, 1183096, 1183097, 1183057, 1183060, 1183098, 1184045, 1183562, 1189322, 1184124, 1184027, 1183575, 1183595, 1184041, 1183596, 1184114, 1184085, 1184103, 1184127, 1189326, 1184107, 1184120, 1189064.