Swimmers in Florida Face a Steamy Ocean.
Swimmers in Florida Face a Steamy Ocean
One morning this week, the water temperature in the vicinity of Key Biscayne, a barrier island located just east of Miami, had already surpassed 89 degrees. Even while the water off the coast of South Florida was a few degrees cooler than it had been in recent weeks—when it reached record highs that shocked researchers and put marine life in danger—it was still extremely hot.
However, on this tranquil stretch of the Atlantic Coast, it was still a summer day at the beach, when nothing satisfies quite like a swim in the ocean — even when the water resembles a viscous, bubbling syrup. Almost like a goo.
Niki Candela, 20, a resident of Miami, shrugged and said, “I like it warm,” just a few moments after a deafening siren warned of incoming lightning. “I like it warm,”
On the mostly deserted beach, the heat-addled visitors barely paid attention to what was going on around them. The coastline, which is usually choked up this time of year with rotting clusters of seaweed, was spotless since there was no longer a threat posed by a massive blob of sargassum in the Gulf of Mexico, which unexpectedly receded during the past month. The shallow water was a crystalline teal colour, and the rolling was ever so gentle; there was not a single wave that was breaking in sight.
“This is as close as America gets to paradise,” said Lauren Humphreys, who is 40 years old and is originally from England but currently lives in Miami and Los Angeles. Humphreys divides her time between these two cities. When she is there, she would rather go climbing than swim in the Pacific Ocean, which had a temperature of about 72 degrees on Tuesday near the Santa Monica Pier.
On that particular day, Ms. Humphreys was making her second trip to the beaches of Key Biscayne. Earlier in the day, she had been here to meditate. She remarked that “there’s something quite special here,” and I couldn’t agree more. “There is a sense of calm.”
According to observations made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the sea temperature reached its highest point of 90.5 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday, while the air temperature reached its highest point of 87.6 degrees. These observations were made just off the shore of the neighbouring Virginia Key. A new high temperature record was set on Saturday when the water temperature at that location reached 92.5 degrees.
This time of year, the water in South Florida is normally warm,
but it is particularly warm this year, as six record-high temperatures have been observed off Virginia Key this month. The seawater temperature in Miami in July is typically around 86 degrees Fahrenheit, but last week the surface of the water in some parts of Florida Bay reached 98 degrees.
According to Brian McNoldy, a senior research scientist at the University of Miami, this summer’s continuous heat in Miami has resulted in a record 16 consecutive days with a heat index of 105 degrees or higher. This is a new high for the city. On Sunday, the National Weather Service issued its very first excessive heat advisory for Miami-Dade County. The prediction was for a heat index of 110 degrees, and the warning was issued.
The sweltering sand at the beach the following day was to be avoided at all costs under all circumstances. A man named Eduardo Valades, who was 51 years old at the time, said to a reporter, “Talk to me here, so I don’t burn my feet,” while gesturing towards the rippling water.
Jennifer Valades, who is 50 years old, is his wife. “I love it,” she stated.
The couple made the move from California to Key Biscayne, a prosperous village with a population of approximately 14,000, three years ago. “Here, you can literally swim for hours,” she claimed, despite the fact that she admitted that the beach was more comfortable — “perfect,” in fact — during the mild South Florida winter, when the water temperature is more likely to be in the mid-70s. “Here, you can literally swim for hours,” she said. Temperatures at the coast tend to be more moderate than those found inland.
Ms. Valades reported that she has seen between six and seven manatees in the area recently. Mr Valades displayed a video on his mobile that he had taken the previous month of a huge shark feeding very close to the shore.
“We see one every three or four days,” he remarked, giving the impression that he was not the least bit concerned about the sightings.
This week, it did not seem essential to dry off with a towel because no one felt cold after exiting the pool.
“It’s just like soaking in a hot tub!” After a quick swim, Sasha Mishenina related the story to her two close pals. They had declined her invitation to accompany them.
