A disk drive includes a rotatable data storage disk, a head, a heater element, and a controller. The disk includes a plurality of data sectors between servo spokes. The head is configured to fly on an air cushion relative to the rotating disk while writing data on the data sectors. The heater element is attached to the head and configured to controllably heat the head responsive to a heater signal. The controller determines an upcoming pattern of selected ones of the data sectors on which data is to be written through the head in response to at least one write command from a host device, and controls the heater signal in response to the determined upcoming pattern of data sectors on which data is to be written.