Extreme Heat to Ease Across Southern Plains While Moving Into the Southeast

Posted: June 30, 2023 2:27 pm

It has been a scorcher of a week in Texas with several daily high records falling as the mercury continued to its northward climb. While the temperatures will ease slightly in the Lone Star State by the weekend, readings will still hover above the norm for early July.

Meanwhile, the heat will simply expand to the east, ushering in extreme temperatures for more areas of the U.S. just in time for the holiday weekend. Here are the details of this forecast.

Texas Sizzles Under Heat Dome but Relief is on the Horizon

Texans are accustomed to hot weather this time of the year, however, the triple digit readings over the last week have been well above the average for the end of June. The immense heat has strained the state’s independent energy grid.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) announced on Thursday that high demand is expected and that customers should aim to conserve energy as temperatures remain elevated.

In addition to the heat, high humidity levels throughout the central and eastern portions of the state have sent the real feel readings even higher. When paired with light winds and searing sunshine, some real feel temperatures have come close to breaking the 120-degree barrier at times over the last few days.

Webb County, Texas has reported at least 11 deaths blamed on the heat. In Hidalgo County, McAllen has seen 16 straight days of temperatures in the triple dights. San Antonio has recorded at least 10 days at or above 100 degrees.

Dallas also saw four consecutive days of temperatures that pushed past the century mark. Typical highs for the end of June in Dallas hover in the low 90s.

Slight Cooling on Tap for Weekend

A brief and small respite from the heat is on tap for much of Texas heading into the weekend. However, forecasters warn that conditions will still be warm with temperatures expected to settle at or slightly above historical averages.

For example, the Rio Grande Valley can expect temperatures to land right at 100 degrees rather than well above this benchmark.

The area of high pressure that encouraged the formation of the heat dome over Texas is going to move to the east by the weekend. Additionally, a southward dip in the jet stream across the central Plains and the Rockies will help to usher in cloud cover and the chance of rain into next week.

Southeast Under the Gun for Rising Temperatures

Mother Nature will crank up the heat across the Southeast just as it eases in the southern Plains. The intense humidity that is typical over the Gulf Coast and the Southeast at the beginning of July will make it feel extra steamy over the long weekend.

The air temperature is predicted to hit the 100-degree mark throughout parts of Arkansas, western Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia to end the week. Cities that will likely see these triple digits readings include Little Rock, Memphis, and Birmingham.

The oppressive humidity and sunshine will send the real feel temperatures into the 110s in the many communities in the Southeast. Local officials are warning residents to check on their elderly neighbors and avoid strenuous outdoor activity. Staying well hydrated will also help to combat the negative impacts of the heat.

A storm system that is setting up over the Midwest to end the work week will move into the Northeast this weekend. The cold front coming in behind this weather maker may drop far enough to the south to deliver cooler temperatures to the interior portions of the Southeast by early in the week.

The cooler air is not likely to make its way all the way to the Gulf Coast. Rather, an unsettled weather pattern packing rain and severe storms may impact the Southeast heading into the holiday.

Reverse Heat Record Set in Las Vegas

While the southern Plains was busy setting daily heat records, it was a different story in one major city in the Desert Southwest. Las Vegas is finally forecast to see a string of 100-degree days after going 293 straight days below this benchmark. It was September 8, 2022 the last time that Sin City climbed into the triple digits.

Las Vegas set a new record on June 26 when the mercury landed at 97 degrees, making it the 291st day in a row without a reading at or above 100 degrees. The previous record for this streak happened between September 1964 and June 1965.

Temperatures have been trending lower lately due to an area of low pressure anchored over the region. This trough of cooler air is forecast to begin to dissipate later this weekend, making way for the formation of a ridge of high pressure.

This ridge will support the temperatures to begin to climb past 100 degrees by the weekend, ending the streak.

In fact, the National Weather Service (NWS) has already issued an excessive heat watch for Las Vegas starting Saturday and lasting through Monday. Temperatures are expected to climb through the weekend, reaching 114 degrees by the beginning of the work week.

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