A dangerous heat wave currently sweeping the South will remain locked in this week, with triple-digit highs, stifling humidity and little relief overnight from Texas to Florida and the Carolinas. Where it’s hot now It’s already hotter even than August standards in the south. The combination of heat and extremely muggy air has caused heat indices to rise above 105, including 110 in southern Georgia, coastal South Carolina, the Florida Panhandle and the South Central region around Memphis. You can see current actual temperatures on the map below: The map below shows where the National Weather Service has issued heat alerts, ranging from heat advisories to extreme heat warnings. These alerts mean it is warm enough to take extra precautions to avoid heat exhaustion or heatstroke. (CURRENT MAPS: Temperatures | Dew Point | Heat Index) Get more of our news on Google Set The Weather Company as a ‘Preferred Source’ for faster access to the news you value. How hot will it get? Almost all of the South will see highs at least in the mid-90s. But many, especially far from the Gulf Coast, will see high temperatures at times soaring to at least 90 degrees, if not 100 degrees. And that’s hot enough to threaten daily record highs in parts of the South, especially from the lower Mississippi Valley to Florida and the Carolinas. (MORE: Should you turn off your air conditioning or leave it on when you leave the house?) This map shows where daily record highs are possible over the next seven days in the South. Little relief at night, typical of heat waves, there won’t be much relief when the sun sets. Morning lows in many parts of the South will not be colder than 70 degrees. In larger metropolitan areas, these coldest daytime temperatures could be around 80 degrees. (MORE: Why Night Temperatures Are Dangerous in a Heat Wave) How Long Will This Last? Kentucky, Tennessee and the southern Appalachians may see slight relief later this weekend. But for the rest of the South, this heat wave will have staying power for at least much of next week, if not longer. This is due to a persistent feature of the atmosphere called a heat dome. (MORE: Earth Just Tied Its Hottest Month on Record) What You Should Do Heat is the No. 1 climate killer in the U.S., with hundreds of deaths each year. The combination of heat and humidity that persists overnight for several days in a row is dangerous for those without access to air conditioning, especially in the centers of larger cities. Check with family, friends, seniors, and people with chronic illnesses who live without access to air conditioning. If possible, avoid being outdoors for long periods in the peak heat of the afternoon. Take frequent breaks, avoid strenuous activities, drink more water than usual, and wear loose, light clothing. (MORE: Heat Tips from an Emergency Doctor) Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at Weather.com and has been covering domestic and international weather since 1996. Extreme and strange weather are his favorite topics. Reach him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook.
