Widespread Triple Digit Readings Continue for the Midwest and South

Posted: August 23, 2023 9:45 am

The heat has been cranked up this week just as millions of American children are returning to the classroom. Forecasters are predicting widespread temperature readings in the triple digits for a large area of the central and southern U.S. Here is what you can expect as Mother Nature puts the heat on during the latter part of August.

Real Feel Readings to Soar Well Into Triple Digits

Some parts of the U.S. will experience the hottest weather of the summer season as an expansive heat dome settles over more than a dozen states. What is most worrisome about this forecast is that the heat is going to linger for days, putting significant strain on cooling systems and power grids.

Real feel readings could surpass the 120-mark in the hardest hit areas because of the high humidity levels and intense sunshine also in place. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued excessive heat warnings for 15 states across the Gulf Coast and up into the Upper Midwest.

It was a sizzling start to the week for the nation’s heartland. Some communities in Kansas and Missouri saw real feel temperatures exceed 130 degrees on Monday thanks to the intense sunshine. These readings came after an unseasonably hot weekend. For instance, Wichita, Kansas recorded a high of 111 degrees during the peak afternoon heating hours on Saturday. This was just a few degrees shy of the all-time record for the month of August for Wichita.

Many records could fall in the coming days as the heat dome refuses to budge. The heat will also start to expand to the north, impacting a larger area of the Upper Midwest in the process. Cities that could see new record highs this week include Minneapolis, Chicago, Kansas City, Des Moines, St. Louis, Dallas, Little Rock, and New Orleans.

This is generally the time of the year when temperatures start to inch downward. However, this week’s forecast is calling for the exact opposite scenario, with temperatures soaring to about 10 to 20 degrees above what is typical for this time in August.

By the end of the week, you can expect the potential of record-breaking temperatures to stretch into the southeastern U.S. This will translate to readings in the mid 90s and lower 100s for cities such as Birmingham and Atlanta.

Overnight Temperatures to Remain Elevated

Complicating the heat problems will be overnight lows that remain elevated even after the sun goes down. Some of the worst heat waves in recorded history have happened when overnight temperatures did not drop significantly. These high overnight lows can put additional strain on individuals as they sleep, particularly for people with pre-existing health conditions.

The unseasonably warm overnight lows will also put more pressure on the energy grid as people are not going to be able to open the windows at night to count on relief from the heat. Residents can expect widespread overnight lows that may not fall into the 70s. In fact, some of these areas may set new records for high overnight low readings.

The surging humidity levels will also add another layer of danger to the heat. This is because high humidity levels make it more challenging for the body to cool itself when exposed to the heat. This is particularly true when spending time outdoors. As such, health officials are warning residents to limit the time that they spend outside this week, especially during the peak afternoon heating hours.

It is also a good idea to be diligent about checking on vulnerable populations during this heat wave, including the elderly, young children, and those with underlying health conditions. Pets should also be monitored for signs of heat exhaustion.

When Will the Heat Finally Break?

Those tired of the heat can expect heat to finally arrive just in time for the weekend. A cold front pushing through the Upper Midwest will bring the daily high temperatures down into the 70s and 80s for major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. Chicago will drop from a forecast high of 90 degrees on Thursday to a high of just 76 degrees on Friday and 72 degrees on Saturday.

While the weather pattern will not be quite as dramatic farther to the south, you can still count on some degree of relief for the central Plains. For example, the high temperature in Kansas City will fall from a projection of 97 degrees on Friday to 87 degrees on Saturday. This is more in line with the historical forecast for the last weekend of August. Rain may even impact some areas of the Midwest by the end of the weekend, ushering in an even greater cooling effect.

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