Pensacola sees dangerous heat risk on July 4
The Pensacola area will see dangerously high temperatures leading up to America's 250th birthday on July 4.
A dangerous heat dome is already in place over more than 250 million people in the central and eastern United States this week. Temperatures are expected to be 10 to 20 degrees above the 30-year historical averages throughout nearly three dozen states, according to AccuWeather.
"The extreme heat and humidity are expected to bring near-record, or possibly record, energy usage to the mid-Atlantic power providers," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert said.
On paper, Pensacola temperatures will be near normal, according to the National Weather Service's July 4 forecast.
High temperatures will reach between 91 and 95 degrees, with coastal areas like downtown Pensacola being on the lower end. Combined with high humidity, feels-like temperatures are forecast to hit around 106 degrees and stick around for a few hours.
The NWS's HeatRisk map puts the majority of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties under a category 3 risk of heat-related impacts. A few areas were marked as having an extreme HeatRisk.
The NWS's HeatRisk map is an experimental service that identifies upcoming heat events and estimates their potential impact on people.
In a major risk, heat illness could impact anyone without cooling or hydration. Extreme risks indicate rare or long-duration extreme heat with no overnight relief.
How to combat the heat on July 4
If you plan on spending time outdoors on July 4, you'll want to make sure that you're prepared.
It's recommended to drink enough water to be hydrated before spending time outdoors during hot weather. Once it gets hot enough, you may not be able to drink enough to catch up with your body's need for water otherwise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Don't wait until you're thirsty to start hydrating. You should aim to drink one cup (8 ounces) of water every 15 to 20 minutes, if you're active outside.
Drinking more than 48 ounces of any fluid can cause a medical emergency because the concentration of salt in the blood becomes too low, says the CDC.
Energy drinks and alcohol should be avoided. Some energy drinks contain more caffeine than standard servings of coffee, tea or sodas, which can affect your heart.
Alcohol is also known to cause dehydration. Drinking it within 24 hours of being out in extreme heat can increase the risk of heat illness, according to the CDC.
You'll also want to make sure that you sit in the shade. That means finding a tree or making your own shade with an umbrella, tent or anything else that is permitted where you may be celebrating the Fourth of July.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola sees dangerous heat risk on July 4
Reporting by Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 12:04 PM.