City issues level 3 heat advisory ahead of Battle of Flowers parade

Here is your parade route view of the Battle of Flowers. Check out all the queens, bands, floats and parade goers who filled downtown for the annual event, Friday, April 22, 2016. Here is your parade route view of the Battle of Flowers. Check out all the queens, bands, floats and parade goers who filled downtown for the annual event, Friday, April 22, 2016. Photo: By B. Kay Richter, For MySA.com Photo: By B. Kay Richter, For MySA.com Image 1 of / 87 Caption Close City issues level 3 heat advisory ahead of Battle of Flowers parade 1 / 87 Back to Gallery

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District has issued a high-level heat advisory for Friday and Saturday, where temperatures are expected to be in the mid-90s for the Battle of Flowers Parade and other Fiesta activities.

The heat index will be between 90 and 108 degrees for two consecutive days, making the notice a level III advisory, a Metro Health news release states.

The Battle of Flowers parade will wind its way through downtown San Antonio around noon Friday, when the National Weather Service projects it to be 94 degrees.

RELATED: NWS: 40 percent chance of rain for the last weekend of Fiesta

"Particularly with all the Fiesta activities taking place on Friday and Saturday, it is imperative that people drink plenty of water to prevent complications from the heat," said Dr. Vincent Nathan, Metro Health assistant director.

Locals began claiming prime parade spots as early as Monday morning, and sightings of chairs, campsites and bleachers have slowly appeared on Broadway throughout the week.

On Tuesday city officials confirmed to mySA.com that camping on Broadway along the parade route was once again open to the public after initially putting an end to the practice last year.

RELATED: City reverses decision, opens Fiesta 2017 camping along Broadway for parades

"The city understands the long family tradition of camping in this area during Fiesta, and wanted to allow for this tradition to continue," Center City Development and Operations Interim Director John Jacks said.

In 2016 the city posted signs announcing that it would be the last year of "Fiesta setup" due to a landscaping project.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5