Tampa hits 100 degrees for 1st time in recorded weather history

Jack Prator and Michaela Mulligan, Tampa Bay Times on Jul 28, 2025

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TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa temperatures climbed into triple digits for the first time in recorded weather history on Sunday.

Air temperatures read 100 degrees at Tampa International Airport, the National Weather Service’s Tampa Bay office wrote in a post Sunday about 3:30 p.m. on X.

Sunday’s heat broke the previous record of 99 degrees set on June 26, 2020.

The location of the weather collection site and a heat dome across the the southeast U.S. combined to create sweltering conditions, according to the weather service.

“The airport sits on the edge of Tampa Bay. The sea breeze is usually able to move in and cool things down before temps can quite get that hot,” the post said. “A combo of multiple hot, dry days and a strong (northeast) wind kept that from happening.”

The weather service issued a heat advisory about noon Sunday as temperatures climbed into the 90s. By 2 p.m., the feels-like temperature reached 114 degrees, accounting for humidity.

There are three main factors that led to Tampa hitting 100 degrees, Stephen Shiveley, a meteorologist for Tampa Bay’s National Weather Service said.

Sunday began warm, around 83 degrees at the airport.

In addition, the day was dry. A combination of Saharan dust lingering in the area and little cloud cover led to climbing temperatures.

And lastly, the seabreeze (which typically cools down the area) was missing. A change in wind direction held back the seabreeze, and any chance to slow the rising heat.

“It’s definitely a possibility again, today,” Shiveley said Monday morning.

However, a little extra moisture Monday could lead to some cloud cover, which may tamp down on the heat.

A heat advisory will begin at noon Monday across much of central Florida, including Tampa Bay, and go until 7 p.m. The heat index could reach up to 112 degrees.

“The only way to really feel relief from a humid heat like this is to be inside,” Shiveley said.

The weather service advised staying indoors, in air conditioning. If a person has to be outside, take frequent breaks and drink plenty of fluids, the weather service said.

“We just hit the hottest temperature ever recorded in Tampa — we’ve got records back to the 1890s,” Shiveley said. “This is not our normal heat.”

Daily weather observations were collected in downtown Tampa at what had been the U.S. Weather Bureau Office. In June 1946, the office was moved to Drew Field, which later became the site for Tampa International Airport. Record-keeping has continued there ever since.

Because the airport lies only about six miles away from the shuttered downtown office, the weather service decided to merge data between the sites to provide a more complete picture of the city’s weather dating back to the late 1800s.

“No record or location for observations is perfect. However, the site does continue to be representative of the greater area, and great care is taken to ensure that the instruments remain well-calibrated, and data quality is sound,” the weather service wrote Sunday.