Bermuda Highs With The Heat Index & Humidity Literally Feels Like It’s Almost 100°F

Do you find yourself trying to duck the blistering heat? Does it feels like it’s draining the energy of life right out of you? Does it feel like it’s hotter than hot this summer, more so than usual?

If the answer to any of those questions is yes, you are not alone!

The island of Bermuda has seen highs in the high 80s for the past few months, but when you factor in the humidity and the heat index factor, during the month of August, it literally feels like it’s almost 100°F.

This becomes particularly even more brutal during the hottest part of our recent long summer days.

When contacted by Bermuda Real, Michelle Pitcher, the Deputy/Acting Director at the Bermuda Weather Service (BWS), said: “The average daily high for June is 80.0F and for July, the average max temperature is 84.9°F.

“With the humidity averaging between 70-85 percent during these months, that gives a heat index of 83-85°F for June and 90-96F for July – at the hottest part of the day. 

“As you rightly stated, heat index is a combination of temperature and humidity,” she added.

“At the height of our summer heat and humidity, our heat index can routinely approach and occasionally exceed the 100F mark – please see details below from the US National Weather Service (https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-index):

She also noted that “rainfall cools off the temperature so while the humidity remains high, in and around showers it is a bit cooler”.

“Think about the breeze that arrives just ahead of a shower. However, when the shower is isolated and short lived, the summer sun returns to immediately begin to evaporate the newly fallen precipitation. 

“This causes a temporary increase in the humidity until the water is soaked in and evaporated.  We can see this especially on the roads as they tend to steam after a brief afternoon shower.”

Now that we are in the midst of the peak hurricane season, which traditionally runs from the middle of August through to early October, Ms Pitcher said: “The Atlantic is about to wake up in the next couple of weeks, with some forecast models showing tropical cyclone development likely to start in the last week of August or first week of September.

“There is no specific prediction about systems coming near Bermuda (yet).

“Hurricane season runs from June through November, with an average peak of the season in mid-September. So, now is when there is a ‘ramp-up’ in activity in the Atlantic, climatologically speaking.

“Bermuda Weather Service records show that 86 percent of all tropical systems coming near the island have occurred in September and October.  

“As many will know, warm ocean water is the energy source for causing hurricanes to form and strengthen. September is the peak of the season primarily because it is when the tropical Atlantic surface temperatures are at their warmest. 

“It is worth noting that the region surrounding Bermuda is currently experiencing a marine heatwave; this is when upper ocean temperatures are significantly warmer than long-term averages,” she added.

“This has implications for hurricane intensity – if a tropical disturbance moves through the Bermuda area while there is a marine heatwave ongoing, the potential for the system’s intensification is greater than normal. As patterns in the ocean and climate evolve over time, these marine heatwaves will continue to become more prevalent. 

In terms of rainfall, things have changed a bit, since July: “The month of August usually averages 5.6″ of precipitation. We are currently at 5.86″ for August.  However, we still are behind the normal for the year to date rainfall.  We are at 29.66″ when usually at this time of year we would have received 35.52” since January.  There is still plenty of opportunity for our rainfall to ‘catch up’ to our normal. 

Meanwhile, there’s no immediate end to this sweltering heat any time soon as high pressure continues to maintain mostly dry and sunny weather.

But today’s weather synopsis says: “Daytime heating and light winds may aid in the development of homegrown cloud with the odd shower during the afternoon to early evening”.

Winds are out of the southeast and light, tending south-southeasterly at times. Today’s high was 88°F. And the UV Index forecast was 10, or very high.

The predicted low for tonight – 80°F.

The forecast for Monday, calls for more long sunny periods, with light winds out of the south becoming variable in direction at times, settling west-northwesterly overnight.

The anticipated high for Monday is 88°F, the low near 27°C and remains primarily the same for the rest of the week.

Hours of sunshine: 10.3