Sweltering South Florida hovers close to a heat advisory. Expect increased weekend storms

“Hot enough for you?” the old idiom goes.

That’s a question that may well be bandied about by your unoriginal, but well-meaning, friends into South Florida’s weekend. That’s because the heat index — the combination of temperature and humidity and what it makes you really feel — hits 107 degrees Wednesday afternoon and remains in the triple digits through most of the week, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.

But don’t expect heat advisories just yet. It’s hot enough for all of us — including the folks at the weather service who live through the swelter outdoors, too — but for one degree it’s not quite hitting the threshold that triggers an advisory.

Weather service meteorologist Will Redman told the Miami Herald last week that threshold is a heat index of 108.

But even without a heat advisory or warning, that doesn’t mean highs in the 90s with triple-digit indices aren’t concerning.

Aside from the discomfort, those vulnerable to high heat — people with outdoor jobs, the elderly, pets and children — ought to take precaution. Make sure to hydrate frequently — water is best. Wear light-colored clothing and try and seek shelter and AC. Never leave children or pets in unattended cars, even with the windows cracked.

On Monday, when it was 93 with a heat index of 103, a 3-year-old boy died after being left inside a parked car near a Miami Gardens preschool. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner said that the child’s body temperature was fatally high and ruled the death “accidental,” the Miami Herald reported Tuesday.

Along with the seasonal highs and regular temperature readings around 90 degrees through the beginning of the next work week, South Florida eyes an increased shower and thunderstorm chance.

According to CBS4 meteorologist Lissette Gonzalez the “weekend is looking wetter.”

Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms should develop mid-days into the evenings from Wednesday through Sunday’s 60% chance.

Some of these storms could bring heavy downpours, gusty winds topping 40 mph and frequent lightning, the weather service said in its hazardous weather outlook.

There is also an elevated risk of rip currents returning to east coast beaches into the weekend.

There’s a similar forecast for the Florida Keys, too, except the rain and storm chances are a little lower, with Saturday’s 50% chance looking as the wettest day.

Tropical disturbance

The National Hurricane Center has lowered development chances for a disturbance extending from the Florida Panhandle west-southwestward along the northern Gulf coast to zero percent.

As of the 8 a.m. advisory Wednesday, that trough is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the northern Gulf of Mexico and adjacent land areas. The system is forecast to drift northward over land during the next few days, stifling its development chances.

But heavy rains could still promote flash flooding along portions of the northern Gulf coast from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle into the weekend, the hurricane center said.

There is an 80% chance for thunderstorms and downpours in Tallahassee on Thursday and Friday and rain chances remain high at 70% Saturday and Sunday.