Weather alert: It could feel like 109 in South Florida as school week starts

The heat is back.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for South Florida. Monday’s advisory, on the first day of school in Broward County, is in effect from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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The weather service says it could feel as hot as 109 degrees across the region.

And forecasters don’t expect much, if any, rain to cool things off.

One word is all you need to know: “Toasty,” said CBS News Miami meteorologist Lissette Gonzalez.

“It is going to be hot and steamy the first week of school for all the kids in South Florida,” she said, mentioning a “feels like” temperature of 97 in Fort Lauderdale and 95 in Miami even before 6 a.m.

Monday’s forecast high is in the low-90s — with the heat peak “sizzling” just as school lets out for the day, Gonzalez said. Temperatures will drop to 82 at night, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.

But the extreme heat index — air temperature mixed with humidity that will make it feel like it’s in the triple digits — “may cause heat illnesses,” the weather service warns.

The weather service forecasts highs in the 90s again on Tuesday with a heat index of 108, and Gonzalez expects another heat advisory.

What is a heat advisory?

The National Weather Service in Miami issues a heat advisory if the heat index is 105 degrees for at least a couple of hours. Before 2023, the weather service issued a heat advisory when the heat index hit 108 degrees. The goal is to spread awareness so that people protect themselves from extreme heat that leads to more than 30 deaths and hundreds of hospitalizations every year, according to county estimates.

What is the heat index?

The heat index is a measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature, according to the weather service. This is how hot it “feels like” on your skin on steamy days.

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How can you prevent heat illness?

Miami-Dade County has issued several hot weather survival tips, based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advice, and noted who is most at risk:

Who is most at risk of heat-related illnesses:

Older adults 65 and older, young children, people with chronic health conditions or mental illness, athletes who exercise outdoors, outdoor workers, people living unsheltered or with limited access to air conditioning, pregnant people, and pets.

What you should do:

▪ Stay cool by spending time in air-conditioned buildings.

▪ Avoid direct contact with the sun.

▪ Reduce physical activity and move to shaded areas.

▪ Do outdoor activities in the cooler morning or evening hours, and dampening your shirt or wrapping a wet scarf or bandana around your neck or forehead could also help.

▪ Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water or drinks with electrolytes if you’re sweating. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more. Use sunscreen, too, to protect against skin damage.

▪ Limit or avoid dehydrating caffeine and alcohol.

▪ Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.

▪ Watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Seek medical care immediately if you know someone who experiences symptoms that could include high body temperature, headache, dizziness or nausea and confusion.

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This story was originally published August 10, 2026 at 5:57 AM.