Fort Lauderdale, located in Florida, witnessed a record-breaking temperature of 98 degrees Fahrenheit (36.6 degrees Celsius) last Saturday, marking the city's highest temperature in the past 15 years. This temperature stands as the highest recorded in the city since June 22, 2009, according to NBC Miami.
Prior to this record-setting Saturday, the hottest day in 2024 for two Florida cities was last Thursday, with Miami hitting 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34.4 degrees Celsius) and Fort Lauderdale reaching 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). Despite being partly cloudy, hot, and humid, Fort Lauderdale's temperature on Saturday was unmatched, while Miami experienced the same peak temperature for the second consecutive day, the highest since last October.
NBC Miami predicts high temperatures to continue across southern Florida this Sunday, though slightly cooler and less humid, with a high of 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33.3 degrees Celsius). "However, there should be plenty of sunshine for Mother's Day with a maximum 10% chance of rain," the news outlet noted.
With the Fort Lauderdale Air Show and Mother's Day festivities underway, the importance of taking precautions to stay safe and cool during these events was emphasized. Amidst the ongoing heatwave affecting Florida, NBC Miami also suggested that the beach is a great place to escape from the heat.
During spring and summer, Florida cities typically experience high temperatures. This was evident in 2023 when a 30-year-old agricultural worker from Homestead, in the southern part of the state, died during a particularly intense workday in extreme temperatures. Efraín López García, originally from Guatemala, was found unconscious in early July and later declared dead. Despite feeling fatigued from the heat and discussing it with his cousin and employer, he continued working for fear of losing his job and tragically collapsed.
In a controversial move last March, the Florida Senate passed Bill 1492, which prohibits cities and counties from adopting measures related to mandatory water breaks and other labor protections against extreme heat. Under this legislation, employees reporting issues related to excessive heat exposure are not protected, nor are training programs on the consequences of heat-related phenomena required, and records related to high temperature exposure need not be maintained.