Tampa reached 100 degrees for the first time in recorded history. It's a rare milestone for Florida, where humidity, sea breezes and frequent storms usually keep temperatures just below the triple-digit mark.

The thermometer at Tampa International Airport topped out at 95 on Monday afternoon, below the 100 degrees it reached on Sunday, which was the highest temperature recorded in Tampa since weather record-keeping began in 1890. However, humidity pushed the feels-like temperature to a heavy 117 degrees at about 3 p.m.

An air temperature of 100 degrees F was recorded for the first time since record-keeping began in 1890. Here's why that might be surprising.