Central U.S. Forecast to See Cooler Temperatures by the Weekend

Posted: August 25, 2023 8:53 am

The Midwest is going to finally see some relief from the extreme heat this weekend, however, that will not be the case for the southern half of the U.S. Here is the latest on this forecast heading into the weekend.

Heat Dome to Retreat from Central U.S., Providing Much-Needed Relief

The bulk of the Midwest and the north-central U.S. experienced the hottest temperatures of the summer over the last several days. For instance, Chicago hit the century mark for the first time in over a decade on Thursday. The humidity across the Windy City made it feel even more miserable. Some areas of the central U.S. saw real feel readings reach the 130s, creating dangerous conditions.

The good news for this part of the country is that the heat dome is forecast to break down by Saturday as a cool front comes down from Canada. A disturbance spinning high in the atmosphere will also bring cooler readings and the chance of moisture to the Great Lakes and the Northeast by Saturday. All of this will combine for a much cooler forecast for a large part of the northern U.S. for the last weekend of August.

The bad news is that the heat dome will simply shift to the south, keeping the extreme heat entrenched over this corner of the country. It has been a scorcher of summer for the state of Texas. As of Wednesday, the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex has seen 43 days this summer with highs that eclipsed the 100-degree barrier. The capital city of Austin has seen this benchmark 49 times this year.

Gulf Coast Also Grapples With Extreme Heat

It has not been much better in locations to the east. New Orleans tied a new record for the city when it reached 102 degrees on Wednesday. Similar readings were recorded along the Gulf Coast with temperatures hovering well above the historical average for this time of the year. The most unseasonably hot weather has happened along the eastern Gulf Coast and into Florida with readings hovering 3 – 4 degrees above average for the month of August in this region.

In addition to the warmer than average temperatures, the South has also experienced higher than usual humidity levels. Real feel readings have soared into the 100s on many occasions throughout the Gulf Coast, the Southeast, and Florida.

As the heat dome gets pushed to the south, more extreme temperatures will set their sights on the Southeast. Atlanta could see its first day in the triple digits this summer by the weekend. The Peach City has not seen readings at this threshold since August of 2019.

Alabama will also be one of the nation’s hot spots this weekend with readings expected to hover in the low 100s for many communities. Sizzling temperatures will also be the story for the Carolinas and the Florida Panhandle. For example, Tallahassee, Florida could see the mercury eclipse the century mark by Saturday.

Vacationers in the Sunshine State looking to squeeze in one last summer trip will want to take caution to avoid the worst of the heat. Visitors to the state’s many theme parks are being urged to be vigilant about staying hydrated.

Southern Plains May See a Degree of Relief

While the extreme southern portions of the U.S. will continue to be under the gun for extreme heat, some degree of relief may be in sight for parts of the southern Plains. For example, Oklahoma City is forecast to fall from a high of 102 degrees on Saturday to readings in the low 90s on Sunday. The seasonable high for the last weekend in August for this city in the middle of Oklahoma is near 90 degrees.

It will be even more tolerable farther north in places such as Wichita, Kansas. This city in the south-central part of the Sunflower State will drop from highs in the low 100s on Friday to the low 90s on Saturday. By Sunday, readings will land in the mid 80s, pairing with a chance of rain or thunderstorms.

Drought and Wildfire Concerns Linger for Gulf Coast and Southern Plains

A lack of rainfall this summer has served to increase drought conditions across much of the Gulf Coast and the southern Plains. Areas of Louisiana have only recorded about 50% of their historical average for moisture this summer, creating more drought concerns for a part of the nation that had been dry heading into the season.

The ongoing drought has led to a greater risk of wildfires. This risk will be heightened further as the heat refuses to budge.

The cool front that is forecast to move through the north-central U.S. and into the Northeast this weekend may inch to the south by the end of the month, potentially ushering in a bit of relief to the Gulf coast and parts of the Southeast.

Tropical Weather Could Impact the Southeast

In addition to the arrival of a cool front bringing a chance of rain to the Southeast, forecasters are also offering hope in the form of tropical activity. The Atlantic hurricane season is nearing its climatological peak date of September 10. The long-range forecast is calling for an increased amount of tropical activity in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and across portions of the Atlantic near the Carolinas and down into Florida.

Although the Southeast will be in the likely impact zone for tropical moisture as August comes to a close, the precipitation is not expected to move as far as the northwestern Gulf Coast region.

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