Prolonged and dangerous heat wave beginning over the Mid-South

A prolonged heat wave began today with a high of 98 degrees and will continue for the majority of the next week, if not longer, including the July 4th holiday.  This heat wave will include daily high temperatures in the triple digits.  There is no rain in the forecast for the next week, which will also further exacerbate drought conditions.  The following was issued this afternoon by NWS-Memphis:


SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
400 PM CDT WED JUN 27 2012

...PROLONGED HEAT WAVE EXPECTED OVER THE MID-SOUTH FROM THURSDAY INTO NEXT WEEK WITH DANGEROUSLY HOT WEATHER EXPECTED...

A STRONG HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BUILD OVER THE MID-SOUTH THROUGH THE END OF THIS WEEK, THROUGH THE WEEKEND, AND INTO MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. THIS WILL BRING A PROLONGED PERIOD OF VERY HOT TEMPERATURES WITH AN INCREASE IN HUMIDITY VALUES BY THE END OF THIS WEEKEND INTO THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK.

HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY EXCEED 100 DEGREES BEGINNING THURSDAY AFTERNOON, WITH EVEN HOTTER TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 102 AND 104 DEGREES EXPECTED FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. MOST LOCATIONS WILL BREAK RECORD DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURES WITH ALL TIME JUNE HEAT RECORDS IN JEOPARDY IN SOME LOCATIONS. [THE ALL-TIME WARMEST TEMPERATURE RECORDED IN JUNE AT MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS 104, SET LAST ON JUNE 28, 1954.]

THESE VERY HOT TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH INCREASING MOISTURE LEVELS BY THIS WEEKEND WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUSLY HIGH HEAT INDEX VALUES IN EXCESS OF 105 DEGREES. THIS WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS HEAT CONDITIONS ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OUTDOORS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS
OF TIME OR FOR THOSE CONDUCTING STRENUOUS OUTDOOR WORK OR EXERCISE. REMEMBER, BEAT THE HEAT AND CHECK THE BACKSEAT. DO NOT LEAVE CHILDREN UNATTENDED IN VEHICLES FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME IN THE HEAT. ALSO REMEMBER TO CHECK ON THE ELDERLY, THOSE WITHOUT INDOOR AIR CONDITIONING, AND OUTDOOR PETS. HEAT ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED FOR THE END OF THIS WEEK OR DURING THE WEEKEND.

PLEASE REVIEW AND ENACT HEAT SAFETY TIPS DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AS TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY LEVELS RISE TO DANGEROUS LEVELS.

In addition to the heat, ozone levels will be at high levels through much of this heat spell, likely prompting daily Code Orange air quality alerts. Precautions for poor air quality are similar to those for heat. To review heat safety tips from MemphisWeather.net, click here.

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