A dangerous stretch of extreme heat is gripping much of the Southeastern United States this week, with the most intense combination of high temperatures and humidity expected to persist through at least Wednesday. Forecasters said relief wasn’t likely to arrive until the weekend.
Here are the key things to know:
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Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 90s and low 100s.
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Heat index values — or “feels like” temperatures — are expected to exceed 110 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Nighttime lows will remain high, offering little relief.
While heat has already been affecting large parts of the central and eastern United States in recent days, forecasters said it had intensified on Monday. The most dangerous conditions are expected through midweek, particularly across areas from the Carolinas and Georgia down to Florida.
The Weather Prediction Center said that several metropolitan areas, including Raleigh and Charlotte in North Carolina, Orlando in Florida and Nashville, were likely to be affected. On Monday, more than 18 million people across this region were under a rare “extreme” heat warning, what the National Weather Service calls a Level 4 out of 4 risk. More than 100 million people around the country were under a “major” risk, the next level down.
The prolonged heat wave is being driven by a persistent dome of high pressure over the center of the country. David Roth, a meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center, said that the Southeast had been enduring elevated temperatures for at least a couple of weeks. As the heat intensified over the weekend, at least one temperature record was broken in Florida on Sunday.
“Tampa had their first 100-degree temperature record,” he said. Tampa’s previous maximum temperature record was 99 degrees Fahrenheit, set in June 2020.
Here’s when some relief is expected.
Forecasters said relief from the extreme heat wasn’t expected until the beginning of August. A cold front will move slowly into the region starting on Thursday, bringing slightly lower temperatures.
However, the Weather Prediction Center said that Thursday would still remain very hot across the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, with temperatures reaching the 90s and heat index values close to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
Florida will be the last to see relief, with the cold front eventually pushing south toward the Gulf Coast this weekend.
“Some parts of Florida will remain hot, but it won’t be as hot,” Mr. Roth said. “But Florida is going to remain hot and humid for another two months or so, maybe three. That’s just what it’s like down there.”
Nazaneen Ghaffar is a Times reporter on the Weather team.
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