Val Verde County under heat advisory, feels like 112 Thursday

Val Verde County spent Thursday under a heat advisory with the most dangerous stretch running from noon to 8 p.m., when Del Rio and nearby communities were expected to endure heat index values around 112 degrees. The National Weather Service said the combination of extreme heat and humidity created a higher risk for heat illness than earlier summer hot spells because the body had little time to adjust.

The advisory covered the Hill Country, Edwards Plateau and northern Rio Grande Plains, putting Val Verde County in the same danger zone as Leakey, Brackettville and Rocksprings. In Del Rio, the forecast called for a high of 103 degrees, and KSAT’s weather outlook said the afternoon heat index could climb to about 111. The National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office said heat indices across South Central Texas were expected to spike into the 108 to 115 range.

For a county of about 47,835 people, with Del Rio as the county seat and primary population center, the warning carried immediate practical weight. Outdoor workers, ranch hands, commuters and people spending time outside for recreation faced the greatest strain, especially in a region where long afternoons are often spent in the sun. The Texas Department of Insurance says the danger is not abstract: Bureau of Labor Statistics data show 344 U.S. deaths and 24,660 serious injuries from 2011 to 2019 tied to environmental heat, including 43 worker deaths in 2019.

Health officials urged residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned places when possible, stay out of the sun, wear loose-fitting clothing and schedule strenuous activity for the cooler parts of the day. The National Weather Service also said to check on friends and relatives who may be especially vulnerable, including children, older adults, people with certain health conditions and anyone without air conditioning. Heat stroke was treated as a medical emergency, and anyone who becomes overcome by heat was told to call 911.

The advisory came after a stretch of wet, unsettled weather in South Texas, a shift that can make the first true surge of extreme heat feel even harsher. With the region also under an Extreme Heat Warning, Thursday was a day for added caution across Val Verde County, not just discomfort.