MEDLEY - The heat impacting South Florida is also affecting our pets, especially those housed at animal shelters. Video circulating on social media shows precautions being taken to keep pets cool at the Miami-Dade Animal Services facility in Medley, after reports of no air conditioning.

While much of the United States is catching a break from unusually high temperatures, it’s abnormally hot in South Florida and poised to turn even hotter in South Texas. The soaring temperatures may mark the start of an unforgiving summer of brutal heat in these areas.

Wednesday was the hottest, most miserable day of what forecasters said is likely to be a week of hazardous heat. Both Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach broke previous record-high temperatures

To deal with the heat, it's best to take precautions. First of all, drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine, high sugar content, and alcohol. During the hottest part of the day, find a cool, indoor space to wait it out if you can.

Some of the hottest air of the season so far will continue to plague South Florida, and there are no signs this dangerous heat will let up.

When you couple the higher humidity with record-setting temps, you get some unbelievable feels-like temps or heat indices. We have three climate locations: Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Key West. On Wednesday,