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The Miami-Dade County Emergency Management authorities issued a safety alert regarding extreme heat affecting southern Florida, with particularly urgent warnings about the risks of leaving children or pets inside parked vehicles.
"The high temperatures in South Florida can rise quickly. Stay cool, hydrate, and limit outdoor activities during the hottest hours. Never leave children or pets inside a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes," the Miami-Dade County posted on its official X account.
The National Weather Service has an active heat advisory for Miami-Dade and Broward counties, with heat index values ranging from 105°F to 110°F (41-43°C) during peak hours, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This is the 12th heat alert issued for South Florida so far in 2026, a figure that reflects the intensity of the season.
The presence of Sahara dust reduces the likelihood of rain to 20-40% and maintains conditions of heat, humidity, and haze that worsen the situation throughout the region.
The warning about vehicles takes on special urgency following a series of recent tragedies. A two-year-old girl died in Hallandale Beach on July 6 after being forgotten by her babysitter in a locked minivan, while the heat index that day reached 101°F (38°C).
In total, four children have died in Florida in 2026 after being left in vehicles under the heat, and nationwide, the number rises to at least 10 minors who have died from this cause.
Florida is historically the second state with the most child deaths from heatstroke in vehicles, with 112 cases recorded between 1990 and 2024, second only to Texas.
As of January 1, 2026, the state has a new law that specifically penalizes failing to protect children or pets inside hot vehicles.
The national context exacerbates the situation. As the Associated Press warned via NBC News, a new and powerful heat dome began to settle over much of the United States this weekend, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit above normal in vast areas of the country.
"This upcoming heat event looks quite remarkable. It will be a long-lasting, widespread, and high-intensity event that will affect millions of people for over a week," warned Daniel Swain, a climatologist at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Although the core of the dome is located in northern Florida, the southern part of the state remains on its periphery with equally dangerous conditions.
County authorities are also urging residents to check on the status of vulnerable neighbors to the heat and remind that Miami-Dade has 22 free cooling centers available until October 31, located in parks and libraries throughout the county.
Those who wish to receive extreme heat alerts can send the text "Alert Miami" to the number 888777.
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