2023 Caribbean heat wave

The 2023 Caribbean heat wave was an intense heat wave that formed over the Caribbean, South Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.[1] It brought record-breaking temperatures across the region. It was caused by a high-pressure system east of Puerto Rico that formed a heat dome.[2]

NWS notice of the heat watch in Puerto Rico

History

A cloudlike formation began to appear as temperatures combined with dust from the Sahara.[3] Increased humidity in the area combined with high temperatures drove the heat index to extreme levels. News sources and meteorologists described the heat wave's intensity as "unprecedented."[4] The New York Times reporter Somini Sengupta described the heat wave as “alarming”.[5] Weather historian Maximiliano Herrera called it "historic".[3] Sources note that climate change was likely a major factor behind the extreme temperatures.[6]

Due to the failure of a power plant in a time of high demand, a power outage affecting over 100,000 people struck Puerto Rico on June 6. In response, LUMA Energy urged customers to conserve energy, and most of the service was restored by the next day.[3]

Statistics

The most intense of the heat occured in the northern portion of Puerto Rico. Record-breaking heat in several places was recorded on June 6, including San Juan at 95 °F (35 °C).[3] The heat index soared, surpassing 110 °F (43 °C) in some areas, with an extreme of 125 °F (52 °C) in Dorado. High temperatures continued into nighttime with San Juan setting a record-high minimum of 82 °F (28 °C) for three consecutive nights. Additionally, The island of Saba recorded a record 92 °F (33 °C), and Aruba recorded 95.5 °F (35.3 °C).[3] Sea temperatures also reached record levels in areas over the Atlantic Ocean.[3] On June 7, an excessive heat warning was issued for north-central Puerto Rico and a heat advisory in other areas.[7]

References
  1. NOAA, Researchers (14 July 2023). "The ongoing marine heat waves in U.S. waters, explained". NOAA.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. Ewing-Chow, Daphne. "Rampant Heatwaves Are A Growing Threat To Caribbean Food Security". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  3. Stillman, Dan (2023-06-07). "Historic heat is roasting Puerto Rico, where it feels like 125 degrees". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  4. "125 degrees? Puerto Rico faces 'dangerous situation' with record". NBC News. 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  5. Sengupta, Somini (2023-06-08). "Record Pollution and Heat Herald a Season of Climate Extremes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  6. Sengupta, Somini (2023-06-08). "Record Pollution and Heat Herald a Season of Climate Extremes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  7. "Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (As of 7 August 2023) - Guatemala | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
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