Heat wave stalls over the South, prompting record highs and extended humidity
A persistent heat dome is keeping temperatures in the southern United States at record levels through the week, with heat advisories issued from Texas to the Carolinas.
A high-pressure system is trapping hot, humid air over the southern United States, producing triple-digit temperatures and heat indices above 105 in parts of Georgia, South Carolina, the Florida Panhandle and the Mid-South. The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories and extreme heat warnings across the region, urging residents to take precautions against heat-related illness.
Most of the South is expected to see daytime highs in the mid-90s, while Texas and Oklahoma may reach the upper 90s or exceed 100 degrees. Nighttime lows are projected to remain in the 70s, offering little relief.
The pattern is likely to persist through at least next week, as a “heat dome” blocks cooler air from moving in. Cooler air is expected to shift into the South only after it moves through the Midwest later in the week.
Health officials note 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 wearing loose, lightweight clothing.
So far, Miami recorded 100 degrees, only the second time since 1895. Other locations that tied or broke daily records include Little Rock, Arkansas (105-107 °F), McAllen, Texas (104 °F), Tallahassee, Florida (100 °F), Fort Lauderdale, Florida (98 °F), Jacksonville, Florida (98 °F), Fayetteville, North Carolina (98 °F) and Charleston, South Carolina (97 °F). Wednesday saw additional records such as Fort Smith, Arkansas (109 °F), Tuscaloosa, Alabama (102 °F) and Savannah, Georgia (99 °F).