Amid Florida's ongoing July heat wave that's pushing temperatures into triple digits, a new study released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists predicts that by mid-century the state will experience some of the highest frequencies of extreme heat in the nation

The study predicts that, in an average year and averaged across the state, Florida will face "105 days with a heat index over 100 degrees F (up from just 25 days historically) and 63 days with a heat index over 105 degrees F."

For instance, the study's authors found that in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, the region has until now experienced only four days a year with feels-like temperatures above 105 degrees. If steps are not taken to slow the pace of climate change, the study found, by mid-century the frequency of days with a heat index of 105 degrees or more will increase to 127 days annually — about four months of the year.

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