Heat wave expected to break records across Southern US
A persistent heat wave is forecast to produce triple-digit temperatures and high humidity across the Southern United States through next week, prompting heat advisories and warnings.
A strong high-pressure system is keeping a heat wave in place over the Southern United States, with temperatures expected to reach the upper 90s and occasionally exceed 100 °F from Texas to the Carolinas. Heat indices are already above 105 °F in parts of southern Georgia, coastal South Carolina, the Florida Panhandle and the Memphis area, prompting the National Weather Service to issue heat advisories and extreme heat warnings.
Most of the region will see daytime highs in the mid-90s, while inland areas away from the Gulf Coast could see temperatures rise into the 100s. Nighttime lows are projected to remain in the mid-70s to low 80s, offering little relief after sunset.
The pattern is expected to persist through at least the first half of next week, with only limited relief anticipated for Kentucky, Tennessee and the southern Appalachians by the weekend. Meteorologists attribute the longevity of the event to a “heat dome” – a stable atmospheric ridge that traps warm air.
Officials remind residents that heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States. They advise checking on vulnerable individuals, limiting outdoor activity during peak heat, staying hydrated, and using air conditioning when possible.