For the record, Tampa’s been almost as hot before. Once on June 4, 1985, and again on June 26, 2020, when the mercury climbed to 99 degrees.
In a text message to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, Phillips wouldn’t deny history, but stopped short of saying that summers going forward will keep bringing more record heat to the Bay Area.
“I posted that it’s gonna be hot with record heat,” he wrote adding that a vocal minority immediately responded, “It’s Summer, of COURSE it’s hot.”
Phillips said that 99% of meteorologists out there acknowledge the climate is warming.
“The big question is, will it continue? And that’s where the debating begins,” he added. “There are convincing arguments to both sides. As for me, I’ll stick with the seven-day forecast and let folks smarter than me tackle the 50-year forecast.”
For now, locals should stay alert.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says July is the hottest month of the year, and forecasters say dangerous heat will stay in the area all week.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for all of West Central Florida today, Monday, July 28, from noon-7 p.m. and called for folks to limit their exposure to heat, protect themselves from the sun, and stay hydrated.
“Temperatures and heat index values will increase through the first half of next week, with dangerous heat forecast each afternoon at least through Tuesday,” the advisory added.
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This article appears in Jul 24-30, 2025.