Temps will tease 100 degrees this weekend amid heat wave

The sweltering heat will be a marked change from the more seasonable temps we’ve been accustomed to so far this year, and it’s likely just a preview for what is expected to be a scorching summer — which hasn’t even officially started yet. The first day of summer is June 20.

Credit: John Spink

Credit: John Spink

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Projections released last month by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show Georgia and most of the continental U.S. are likely to experience above-average temperatures through August.

While days have steadily warmed this month, 100 degrees is out of the norm even for mid-summer in Atlanta. Highs often tease the triple-digit mark, and when factoring in humidity, the feels-like temps often exceed 100 degrees. But the actual air temperature has not reached 100 since 2019, Kramlich said.

Typically, we see highs around 87 degrees in mid-June, but they will creep into the upper 90s over the next few days, with “potentially record-shattering heat moving in,” Kramlich said.

The projected high Friday is 95 degrees, followed by 98 on Saturday, with some models predicting a 99-degree high, according to the National Weather Service. And while no rain is in the forecast, there is still some moisture in the air, which could make it feel more like 100.

The highs are expected to continue to reach the mid-90s on Sunday (96) and Monday (94).

Credit: Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC

Credit: Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC

So when can we expect some relief? The NWS forecasts a return to more seasonable temps by the middle of next week. We could see some rain then, too.

This heat wave is being driven by an area of high pressure over the southwestern states that has created a dome effect and is keeping rain and clouds away, causing temperatures to soar. Thankfully, though, temps in Georgia won’t reach the 110-degree mark that Arizona and Nevada have seen for the past several days.

For those spending time outdoors, “you need to be taking frequent breaks in the shade,” Kramlich said. “Make sure you are staying hydrated. If you’re already thirsty, it’s too late. So when you wake up, you need to be drinking that water.”

Heat-related illnesses and deaths occur when exposure to high temperatures overwhelms the human body’s natural cooling mechanisms. That can lead to a steep rise in body temperature, which can damage vital organs and even the brain. Quickly seek relief if you feel symptoms of heat exhaustion, which include heavy sweating, dizziness, a rapid pulse, nausea, headaches and cool, moist skin.

Around 1,200 people die in the U.S. each year from extreme heat, according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the actual death toll is likely much higher.

The risk of complications is greatest in children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with certain medical conditions, such as heart and lung issues, according to the CDC. Outdoor workers, athletes who exercise outside and people without access to air conditioning are also more vulnerable.

Heat risk also varies across urban landscapes. Areas shaded by trees, for example, are much cooler than “urban heat islands” packed with buildings and heat-absorbing pavement.

In Atlanta, the neighborhoods most vulnerable to both heat and flood risks are those to the west and south of downtown, a 2023 Georgia Tech study found. Compared to other parts of the city, those areas generally have less tree cover, lower prevalence of air conditioning systems and a higher proportion of elderly residents.

The frequency and intensity of heat waves is increasing across the country, including in Atlanta. The city now sees about eight more extreme heat days than it did in 1961, according to the U.S. Global Change Research Program. The “heat wave season,” when multi-day stretches of sustained dangerous temperatures are possible, has also lengthened by more than 80 days.

So get used to Georgia summers likely becoming longer and more intense and prepare accordingly. Get outdoors and have fun in the sun, but do it responsibly.

3-DAY FORECAST

The heat dome that brought dangerous heat to the Southwest U.S. has made it to the South.

Today

High: 95

Low: 72

Sunny and hot

Saturday

High: 98

Low: 73

Sunny and hot

Sunday

High: 96

Low: 74

Sunny and hot

» For a detailed forecast, visit www.ajc.com/weather.