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Over the past week, much of Europe and the Caribbean Region were mauled by record late-season heat. More than a thousand monthly records fell across this broad swath of area since the beginning of the month. October 12-13 saw record heat push into Miami. On October 12, that City’s low temperature was 84°. That was the highest October minimum temperature on record and tied for the highest minimum temperature on record for any date. It was also the latest-season 84° minimum temperature by more than a month. The previous record was set on September 8, 2017.

One day later, the mercury soared to an October record-tying 95°. The only other October 95° temperature occurred on October 1, 1980. To date, Miami has experienced a record 136 90° or above days and 26 95° or above days.

On account of climate change—both through warming air temperatures and the increased frequency of marine heatwaves—Miami has experienced a dramatic increase in the frequency of 90° or above high temperatures. During 1961-1990, Miami averaged 51.5 such days. During 1991-2020, that figure had increased to 91.4 days. During the latest 30-year period, that figure has increased further to 93.7 days.

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