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Heat Advisory in Effect for Southwest and West Central Florida on August 17

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for 24 zones across southwest and west central Florida as heat index values rise.

3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 17, 2026, 1:16 a.m. ET

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 17, 2026, 4:24 p.m. ET
Official records from the show a is in effect on August 17, 2026. The begins at 11 AM EDT this morning and expires at 7 PM EDT this evening. According to reporting from newschannel9.com, temperatures are expected to climb near 98 degrees, with heat index values potentially reaching 105 to 110 degrees across According to official National Weather Service records, the covers zones, including Sumter, Pinellas, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto, Coastal Levy, Coastal Citrus, Coastal Hernando, Coastal Pasco, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte, Coastal Lee, Inland Levy, Inland Citrus, Inland Hernando, Inland Pasco, Inland Hillsborough, Inland Manatee, Inland Sarasota, Inland Charlotte, and Inland Lee. Listed cities include Parrish, Lakeland, Hudson, Lakewood Ranch, Port Charlotte, Sanibel, Anna Maria Island, Cape Coral, Dade City, Sarasota, Inverness, Punta Gorda, North Port, Cedar Key, Apollo Beach, Venice, Zephyrhills, Chiefland, Babcock Ranch, Spring Hill, Clearwater, Placid Lakes, Brandon, Sun City Center, and Lake Panasoffkee. National Weather Service records state that Recommended precautions include drinking plenty of fluids, staying in an air-conditioned room, staying out of the sun, and checking up on relatives and neighbors.

Earlier reports

  1. Aug 17, 2026, 1:25 a.m. ET

    NWS Warns High Heat and Humidity May Cause Heat Illnesses in Florida

    Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses, according to an official advisory record from the National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL. The impact warning applies across all of southwest and west central Florida on August 17, 2026.

    Heat index values up to 110 are expected from 11 AM to 7 PM EDT. The advisory encompasses 24 zones, including areas such as Sumter, Pinellas, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto, and surrounding coastal and inland regions.

    The National Weather Service recommends that people drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

  2. Aug 17, 2026, 1:16 a.m. ETFirst report

    National Weather Service Issues Heat Advisory for Southwest and West Central Florida

    In a developing weather situation, official records from the National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL show a Heat Advisory has been issued for all of southwest and west central Florida. The advisory covers 24 zones and is in effect on August 17, 2026, starting at 11 AM EDT and expiring at 7 PM EDT.

    Official records report that heat index values are expected to reach up to 110. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses across the region, which includes Sumter, Pinellas, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, and DeSoto counties, as well as coastal and inland areas of Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties.

    To mitigate risk, official records recommend that residents drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

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Revision history

  1. Version 117 Aug 2026, 05:25current

    First published.

  2. Version 117 Aug 2026, 05:16current

    First published.

  3. Version 117 Aug 2026, 20:24current

    First published.

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