For the first time, Puerto Rico issues an excessive heat warning for the entire island

Puerto Rico issued an island-wide excessive heat advisory for the first time on Tuesday, amid chronic blackouts and a scorching sun that is causing stifling temperatures.

All 78 municipalities in Puerto Rico, in addition to the US Virgin Islands, were placed under a heat advisory or warning. It is the first time that the weather agency has issued heat warnings beyond Puerto Rican coastal areas since the system was established six years ago.

The wind chill was expected to reach 46°C (114°F) in most Puerto Rican coastal areas from Tuesday to Wednesday morning, while the island is covered in Saharan dust from Africa.

Ernesto Morales, alert coordinator of the Puerto Rican Meteorological Service, told The Associated Press that, although the entire island has met the conditions for a notice before, this is the first time it has been issued for the entire territory.

“Just like with a hurricane warning and a flood warning, we want the public to make decisions based on these warnings,” Morales said. He noted that climate change and ocean warming are contributing to the island’s stifling heat.

The notice will be in effect from 10 in the morning until 6 in the afternoon.

The dense layer of Saharan dust—composed of mineral dust from West Africa—moving across Puerto Rico and the Atlantic is making the heat worse. Dust particles are also considered harmful to health, especially for people with allergies or weak immune systems.

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