Discover the Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in Florida

Florida is one of the top producers in agriculture out of the southeast states. It grows 67 percent of the oranges in the United States and supplies about 40 percent of the world’s orange juice. This is primarily thanks to Florida’s humid tropical and subtropical weather it experiences all year round. And, on average, the state sees between 2,800-3,200 hours of sunshine annually. While Florida doesn’t often observe temperature extremes, you’ll be surprised by the hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida.

Florida’s Average Temperatures

Like many places in the United States, Florida has lower temperatures during the winter months and hotter temperatures during the summer months.

From January to March, temperatures range from 61°F to 68°F. April, May, and June warm up to between 72°F- 81°F. The hottest weather Florida experiences is during July, August, and September with temperatures averaging around 82°F. Once the fall comes, temperatures drop from 75°F in October to 61°F in December. The yearly average temperature Florida residents experience is a balmy 72°F.

The Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in Florida

The hottest temperature Florida ever experienced was on June 29, 1931. That day, the thermometer reached 109°F in Monticello! When temperatures get this hot, residents must take precautions to stay safe.

A person’s body temperature ranges from 97°F to 99°F. When your body gets higher than that, the brain gets to work cooling the body down. One way is through sweat, and as the sweat evaporates, the body cools off. The other way is by dilating vessels and increasing your heart rate. This helps bring heat and blood to your body’s surface. And in turn, this aids your body in letting go of the excess heat.

When temperatures are extremely hot, like the hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida, your body can’t keep up with the cooling process. Especially in Florida’s humid climate, sweat can’t evaporate well off the body, and that can increase your internal temperature.

Prolonged exposure to extreme heat may lead to brain damage or harm to other vital organs.

Heat-Related Illnesses

There are a range of illnesses one may experience when exposed to extreme temperatures. A mild illness, like heat cramps, results when one sweats a lot over a short period of time. The body’s salt and moisture are used up and cause muscle pains, usually felt in the abdomen, arms, or legs.

One may also experience a heat rash. This is when extreme sweating aggravates the skin. A cluster of red pimples or blisters forms across the chest, neck, or elbow creases. While this is uncomfortable, it is also a mild reaction.

A little more serious heat-related illness is heat exhaustion. This is when your body goes into overdrive producing sweat in an attempt to cool down the body in extreme temperatures. Symptoms people report include dizziness, feeling like they have to throw up, or pounding headaches. They will appear clammy and pale, and their pulse will be rapid.

The most severe effect of extreme heat is heat stroke. This is when the body temperature reaches 104°F to 105°F. Skin will appear red and dry, and the pulse will be very rapid. Individuals will experience headaches, nausea, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. Individuals will often act confused or agitated.

At this point, the person must get out of the heat and cool down. Especially if they’ve lost consciousness, they should be taken to a hospital. If left untreated, heat stroke can lead to death.

The CDC describes warning signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses on its website, which is very helpful for future reference.

Animals That Thrive in Hot Temperatures

Many animals enjoy temperatures in the 90s and take full advantage of basking in the sun. But some temperatures, like the hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida, are too much for any living creature. These animals adapt when temperatures get too hot.

Gopher Tortoise

As an ectotherm, the gopher tortoise depends on outside sources for body heat. Temperatures in the 90s are ideal for this tortoise, and they spend a lot of time basking in the Florida sun. Gopher tortoises are basically active throughout the year in Florida because of Florida’s tropical temperatures. However, if temperatures become extreme, their burrows provide a stable temperature shelter for them.

About 80 percent of a gopher tortoise’s day is spent in its burrow. Their burrows average 15 feet long and 6.5 feet deep. Though, some burrows get as long as 40 feet with a depth of 10 feet. And the gopher tortoise isn’t the only creature to use the burrow for temperature relief. Many other species like mice, burrowing owls, snakes, rabbits, and gopher frogs also inhabit abandoned burrows. Or some of these animals even coexist with the tortoise in the same burrow.

While the gopher tortoise enjoys the hot days, it also has a burrow to hide out in if temperatures are too high.

Armadillo

Their common name “armadillo” comes from the Spanish word meaning “little armored one.” Armadillos thrive in Florida’s humid climate and enjoy temperatures up to 85°F. However, they’ve also adapted to scorching weather; during the summer months, armadillos are active during the crisp night hours. They also utilize burrows, either by digging their own, taking over an abandoned tortoise hole, or inhabiting an old burrow of a different armadillo. They can comfortably live in the burrow for several days before needing to emerge to forage. Armadillos are mainly insectivores and eat insects such as millipedes, centipedes, leeches, or worms.

Armadillos spend about 30 percent of their day in a burrow during the summer, but in extreme weather, these burrows provide a comfortable climate. When temperatures are in the high 90s outside, the burrow hovers around an enjoyable 75°F.

Water Moccasin/ Cottonmouth

Like other ectothermic creatures, the cottonmouth snake (also known as a water moccasin) uses outside temperatures to heat its body. These snakes prefer temperatures between 90°F to 93°F for basking.

About 2-4 feet in length and weighing between 3-4 pounds, this snake has a fairly thick body compared to other species in Florida. This helps the snake stay afloat on the water as it maneuvers the waters of canals or wetlands. Cottonmouths are semi-aquatic snakes and the only species of venomous snakes that spend most of their time in the water.

This snake has a couple of ways to survive extreme heat. The first is that during the summer months, cottonmouths become nocturnal. Using the heat-sensing “pits” on the side of their heads, they can decipher different heat sources, striking with accuracy in the dark. The cool of the night protects them because if these snakes get too hot, they’ll experience overheating that they can’t control. In temperatures over 95°F, a cottonmouth can die after 20 minutes of exposure.

If a cottonmouth needs to cool down during the day, it uses water. Water is a more efficient conductor of heat than air, so getting in the water will absorb the thermal heat energy from the snake. This snake can spend 13-30 minutes underwater and is a very strong swimmer. On really extreme days, the cottonmouth may spend most of the day in the water.

In Conclusion

While the hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida was a blistering 109°F, that was over 90 years ago. Generally, Florida experiences very pleasant tropical temperatures all year round. Plus, when the state does see extreme temperatures, there is easy access to water, and air conditioning is in almost every business or home. If Floridians need to escape the heat, it is very easy to do so.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/lucky-photographer