It's Hot, and We've Got Thoughts

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THE SKINNY

• Southshore’s Heat Wave

• The Monday Money Minute

• Meteor Time

Featured Story

Why Is It So Hot?

Florida temperatures are rising, but rapid growth in Southshore may be making it feel even hotter

We posted something about this on social media the other day. Nothing scientific or anything. Just a thought. “I feel like this is not the same Florida heat I grew up with.” It's June, and the norm is already the mid-to-high 90s. Maybe numerically that's average, or at least close to it. But it feels different. The heat seems to radiate from every direction, and the breeze that once made it somewhat bearable feels like it's packed up and moved to another state.

Of course, the internet experts dove in headfirst. As always, there were plenty of opinions but not many explanations. But it got me thinking. Is it actually warmer, or am I just becoming that old guy who thinks everything was better back in his day? Well, apparently I'm not imagining it.

Climate data shows Florida has been warming for decades. Average temperatures across the state have increased significantly over the last century, with much of that warming occurring in recent decades. Scientists largely attribute that trend to global climate change. That means even rural parts of Florida that haven't experienced major development are getting warmer.

But here in Southshore, there's another factor that may be making things feel even hotter. Growth. A lot of growth. Over the last two decades, Southshore has experienced explosive development. Thousands of acres that were once farmland, pasture, wetlands, and open space are now covered by homes, shopping centers, warehouses, roads, and parking lots. And those surfaces are basically giant heat collectors.

Concrete, asphalt, and rooftops absorb the sun's energy throughout the day and slowly release that heat after sunset. That's why developed areas often remain noticeably warmer at night than nearby rural areas.

Scientists even have a fancy name for it: the Urban Heat Island Effect. See? It’s official. In simple terms, the more pavement and rooftops you have, the more heat gets trapped in the local environment. That's one reason standing in the middle of a newer subdivision on a July afternoon can feel very different from standing beneath a canopy of mature trees near the Little Manatee River.

Then there's Florida's secret weapon: humidity. Our heat isn't just about temperature. It's about how that temperature combines with Gulf Coast moisture. That's why a 94-degree day in Florida can feel more miserable than a 104-degree day in parts of the Southwest.

As development increases, tree canopy often struggles to keep pace. Less shade, more pavement, and changing airflow patterns can all contribute to higher local heat levels. Which raises an interesting question as Southshore continues to grow: Are we building enough shade? Or maybe the better question is whether we've removed too much of the shade that was already here.

Most growth conversations focus on traffic, schools, flooding, and infrastructure. Those are important issues. But increasingly, planners should be looking at tree canopy, green space, and heat resilience because they directly impact energy costs, public health, and quality of life. And, perhaps most importantly, how much I complain about the temperature while sitting on my rocking chair telling the neighborhood kids to stay off my lawn. Just kidding. We all know kids don't play outside anymore.

So yes, Florida is getting warmer. Which means the next time you step outside and immediately start sweating through your shirt before reaching the mailbox, at least you'll know there's a reason for it.

Monday Money Minute

If you had one financial tip for younger you, what would it be?

If I could go back in time and give my younger self one piece of financial advice, it wouldn't be "buy Bitcoin." It wouldn't be "buy Apple stock." And it definitely wouldn't be "don't buy that car." Although, to be fair, younger me probably should've listened to that last one.

No, the advice I'd give is much simpler: Start investing earlier. Not because I'd suddenly become rich overnight. Quite the opposite. Because the biggest advantage in investing isn't picking the perfect stock. It's time.

Let's say you invest $100 per month starting at age 25 and earn an average annual return of 8%. By age 65, you'd have contributed about $48,000 of your own money. But your account would be worth nearly $350,000. Where did the other $300,000 come from? Compounding.

It's one of the closest things to magic that exists in finance. Your money earns money. Then the money your money earned starts earning money. Then the money that money earned starts earning money. Eventually the growth begins to outpace your contributions. That's the part most people don't realize. The goal isn't necessarily to invest huge amounts. The goal is to give your investments enough time to work.

Here's the painful example. If someone starts investing $100 per month at age 25 and another person waits until age 35, the first investor may end up with nearly twice as much money despite only contributing for ten extra years. That's because compounding rewards time more than almost anything else.

It's why financial advisors constantly preach the same boring message: Start now. Not next year. Not when rates drop. Not when the market feels safer. Not when you get that promotion. Now. Because every year you wait is one less year your money gets to compound.

The funny thing is most of us spend our younger years believing we have plenty of time. Then one day you're sitting on your porch wondering why your back hurts, why Florida feels hotter than it used to, and where the last twenty years went. Trust me. The years move faster than you think.

So if I could give my younger self one financial tip, it would be this: Stop worrying so much about finding the perfect investment and focus on giving good investments more time. Because when it comes to building wealth, time is often more powerful than money.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Your Weekly What in the World

The Meteor Shower That Refuses to Follow the Rules

Most meteor showers are pretty predictable. Astronomers know when they'll arrive, roughly how many shooting stars they'll produce, and whether they're worth staying up past your bedtime to watch. The June Bootids didn't get that memo.

The annual meteor shower is expected to peak around June 27, but unlike most celestial events, nobody really knows what it's going to do. Some years, skywatchers see only a handful of meteors per hour. Other years, the shower has unexpectedly exploded into a full-blown light show, producing dozens, and even more than 100, meteors per hour. Scientists still can't accurately predict which version will show up. That's why astronomers often call the June Bootids one of the most unpredictable meteor showers of the year.

The meteors come from debris left behind by Comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke, which crosses Earth's orbit every few years. As our planet passes through the comet's dusty trail, tiny particles slam into Earth's atmosphere and burn up, creating the streaks of light we call shooting stars. What makes the Bootids especially unique is how slow they appear to move. Most meteors flash across the sky in the blink of an eye. Bootids tend to drift more slowly, creating long, graceful streaks that can be easier to spot.

So what about Florida? Good news. We actually have a chance to see them. The June Bootids favor observers in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes Florida. The shower's radiant point is located in the constellation Boötes, and while you don't need to find the constellation to enjoy the show, you'll want to look toward a dark sky away from city lights. The best viewing will be after sunset and before dawn as the shower approaches its peak.

Now for the bad news. The June Bootids are famous for underdelivering. In most years, you'll only see a few meteors per hour. But that's also what makes them fun. Nobody knows whether this year will be a dud or whether it might surprise everyone with an unexpected burst of activity.

So if you happen to be outside late this week, maybe take a few minutes to look up. At worst, you'll see a couple shooting stars. At best, you'll witness one of the sky's most unpredictable shows. And honestly, after surviving another week of Florida summer heat, standing outside at midnight might not be such a bad idea anyway.

Get the scoop on the Bootids

Southshore Spotlight

Lighthouse Gospel Mission

For more than 70 years, Lighthouse Gospel Mission has been serving some of Tampa Bay's most vulnerable residents through addiction recovery, food assistance, and faith-based community outreach. Based in Riverview, the organization operates an 18-month residential discipleship program for men and women seeking freedom from addiction while also providing food assistance to families throughout the region.

Through its Operation Hope ministry, Lighthouse Gospel Mission helps distribute hundreds of thousands of pounds of food each year to families in need and partners with other local organizations to expand its reach across Tampa Bay. The nonprofit also operates a thrift store and food truck that help support its mission of serving the hurting, hungry, and addicted in our communities.

Whether it's helping someone overcome addiction, putting food on a family's table, or offering hope during a difficult season of life, Lighthouse Gospel Mission continues to make a meaningful impact right here in our community.

Nominate your local hero by emailing us at [email protected]

We Know a Guy…or Girl

Southshore Services

Need a painter? A plumber? Someone brave enough to tackle that lightbulb orbiting 30 feet above your living room? We’ve got you. And the best part, they’re all right here in our community.

Interested in joining the list? Shoot us an email to [email protected]

“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Your Restaurant

New menu items, promos, specials, events- feature them here. This is the place to tell 30,000 readers in Southshore what you've got. Only 20 spots for the year. Claim yours today.

If you’ve got a restaurant, food truck, or even a lemonade stand, it could be featured here. Email us at [email protected]

Local Sports

Got news, events, or press releases that the Southshore needs to know about? Submit them here. (We’ll do our best to add press releases in our regular rotation.) If you’re looking to run an actual ad, go here instead.

Until next time,

Keep It Local.