Heat will hang over Tampa Bay for the Fourth of July

Heat will hang over Tampa Bay for the Fourth of July

Tampa Bay won't face the worst of the heat dome building over the Southeast, but the region is still in for a familiar (and dangerous) summer swelter.

Why it matters: The heat could complicate Fourth of July celebrations, with crowds expected to gather outdoors to mark America's 250th birthday.

Driving the news: NOAA forecasters predict "widespread... record-breaking" temperatures up to the low 100s, with feels-like temps peaking at 105-110 "in many places."

  • They also say overnight lows will be "quite warm," and there could be record-breaking low temperatures that won't bring relief from the heat.

    • Zoom in: A National Weather Service Heat Risk Map showed much of the region under a Level 2 "moderate risk," with St. Petersburg and Tampa under a Level 3 "major risk," as of Tuesday.

  • "We're not expecting too much of a change when it comes to heat," said Stephen Shiveley, a meteorologist for Tampa Bay's weather service. "We're still going to have heat indices around 105 every afternoon."

    • Yes, but: Shiveley tells Axios that "heat is sneaky."

  • "You hear lightning, you know to go indoors," he said. "You know to escape hurricanes and tornadoes. But heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer. It's not tornadoes, not hurricanes, it's heat."

    • How to stay cool: First, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Avoid going outside in the afternoon if you can.

  • If you must be outside, wear light-colored, lightweight clothes, drink water, wear a wide-brimmed hat, seek shade and take plenty of breaks.
  • To stay cool outside, place cold cloths on your skin or spray your clothing with water, according to TIME.
  • Also: Watch out for signs of heat-related illnesses.
  • Check on your neighbors and family members, particularly older adults.

    • For the pet parents: It's best to walk your dog early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the hottest parts of the day. This can help prevent overheating and keep hot pavement from damaging your dog's paws.

    Not-so-fun fact: The heat wave baking Europe last week wouldn't be possible without climate change, a World Weather Attribution rapid study found.