Fourth Forecast: Beach Weather

The forecast for rain has dried up and the Independence Day weekend is expected to be mostly sunny and hot, as in the old saying "hotter than the Fourth of July." 

While it will be hot, South Padre Island temperatures will be a few degrees cooler than the rest of the Rio Grande Valley.

The National Weather Service is predicted highs in the mid to upper 80s through the weekend along the coast, while the upper Valley can expected to hit triple digits on Saturday and Sunday.

There's almost no chance of rain this weekend, NWS meteorologist Jason Straub said. At the beaches, "the only shade will be what you bring with you," he said, recommending beach umbrellas and canopies.

For beachgoers, the risk of rip currents is low this weekend due to low wave heights and only light wind across the Gulf of Mexico, he said.

For any outdoor activities, whether at the beach or in the backyard, the blazing, scorching sun makes "sunscreen a must," Straub said.

Dr. Michael Mohun, chief of emergency medicine at Valley Baptist Medical Center, urges "common sense" celebrations of Independence Day.

Most of the patients who show up at the hospital's emergency department on Fourth of July are victims of carelessness: burns from fireworks, too much to drink and heat-related ailments, he said.

For outdoor activities, wear a hat, sit in the shade, and smear sunscreen on exposed skin, Mohun said. He recommends the newer sunscreen formulas with SPF 85 for the best protection.

Iced tea and a frosty beer may be refreshing but water and sport drinks such as Gatorade are better choices, he said, adding that tea and alcoholic beverages actually cause dehydration.

He also recommends that special attention be paid to small children and elderly persons to be sure they are protected from the sun and heat.

Mohun said the signs of heat stress include light-headedness, dizziness, headache and nausea.

___

The full weekend forecast from the NWS:

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 81. East southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 85. South southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 82. South southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Independence Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 83. South wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 86. South wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 81. South wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.