Blistering Southeast heat wave set to snap soon
By
Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Updated May 28, 2021 11:34 PM EDT
AccuWeather forecasters say there is one more day of blistering heat to face in the southeastern United States, but relief is on the not-too-distant horizon as much cooler and less humid air is forecast to sweep through the region during the Memorial Day weekend.
High temperatures in the low to middle 90s F are pretty much a given during the dog days of July and August in the Southern states. Some in the South may even argue that the high heat over a two- to three-month period is long enough. Temperatures at and above this level during late May are not only premature, but also close to daily record territory.
The combination of temperature, humidity and intense sunshine has pushed AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures to dangerous levels, even by Southern standards. RealFeel® Temperatures are projected to peak near and above the 100-degree mark into the end of the week.
Whether you are a long-time Southerner or a recent northern transplant, caution is advised with conditions this extreme when considering manual labor or vigorous physical exercise outdoors. Regardless of the amount of physical activity, AccuWeather forecasters recommend taking breaks from the heat and drinking plenty of water.
Actual temperatures experienced much of this week and those forecast on Friday in most locations are 8-15 degrees above average for late May -- and even a few degrees above average for the heart of the summer.
While there has been and will continue to be some day-to-day temperature variation in part of the region, highs will generally range from the middle to upper 80s in the southern Appalachians to the 90s elsewhere for the balance of this week.
On Tuesday, the record high of 90 set in 1953 was tied at Tri Cities Airport in Tennessee. Jackson, Kentucky, set a new record high of 89 on Tuesday, breaking the old daily record of 88 set last year and in 2019.
On Wednesday, Raleigh, North Carolina tied its record of 94 degrees. A bit farther to the north, Lynchburg, Virginia tied a record high of 93 degrees.
Some daily record highs can be challenged into the end of the week. However, in general most record highs are likely to be just out of reach from this point forward as an uptick in moisture in the air into Friday will limit the ability for temperatures to soar as high.
A strong push of cool air is forecast to be extensive and borderline rare for late May this weekend, thanks to a substantial dip in the jet stream and northerly winds.
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This major push of cool air follows a weak push from Wednesday to Thursday across Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. Temperatures reached 83 degrees in Nashville, Tennessee, Wednesday afternoon following highs in the lower 90s each day since Sunday. Following a high of 94 degrees on Wednesday in Charlottesville, Virginia, the high temperature was 88 degrees on Thursday.
"After several days where RealFeel® Temperatures are expected to surpass 100 degrees from Georgia to the Carolinas, a major cooldown is anticipated during the weekend with temperatures dropping anywhere from 10 to 20 degrees lower than what they will be Thursday and Friday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.
The spread of cooler and less humid air will be a gradual one, and not a massive, fast-moving sweep that tends to occur during the early spring.
"Relief will first be felt from the northern Gulf states to North Carolina on Saturday, while areas from South Carolina to northern Florida will continue to swelter," Anderson said.
For example, following a high near 90 on Thursday, highs in Charlotte, North Carolina, will trend downward from 89 on Friday to 83 on Saturday and a then a chilly 70 on Sunday. Clouds are expected to rule during the day on Sunday as the cooler air drills in. Following the chance of a shower during the day, sky conditions are forecast to clear Sunday night.
Temperatures are projected to fall through the 60s and may dip into the upper 50s during the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday evening.
This may be close to the coolest 600-mile spring race on record at Charlotte. "The lowest maximum temperature on race day was 67 on May 30, 1971," AccuWeather Senior Weather Editor Jesse Ferrell said.
Restrictions have been lifted for all races through this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
"By Sunday, the leading edge of cooler air should reach as far south as northern Florida before it stalls out," Anderson said.
On Memorial Day, morning low temperatures will range from the upper 40s to near 50 over the southern Appalachians to near 60 along the Carolina coast and near 70 along the upper Gulf coast.
Widespread highs in the lower to middle 80s are forecast from the Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley with highs projected to be in the 70s from upstate South Carolina to much of North Carolina and Virginia on Monday. Temperatures and overall humidity levels will be below late-may standards for the Southern states. Daytime highs are typically about 5 degrees higher and nighttime lows 5-10 degrees higher on May 31.
As the cooler and less humid air advances and clashes with the excessive heat and humid conditions currently in place, showers and thunderstorms are likely to erupt during the latter part of the week. The southward dip in the jet stream may provide enough vigor for some of the storms to become severe.
Brief rainfall might be welcomed in parts of the Carolinas and Georgia, as these areas were experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions, according to the United States Drought Monitor report from May 20.
"Near and just north of where the cool air boundary slows and stalls over the weekend and early next week, there is the risk of thunderstorms, which may be locally heavy with the risk of small hail and flash flooding, especially along the Gulf coast and along the southern Atlantic coast," Anderson said.
As is usually the case this time of year, the cool spell will be brief.
"The jet stream is expected to lift back to the north next week, with a gradual return to very warm and humid conditions is in store," Anderson added.
But while humidity levels will return to typical early June, Southern standards, temperatures should not reach the extreme levels of that this week in most locations. Average highs next week will generally be in the 80s to near 90 over the region.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
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News / Weather Forecasts
Blistering Southeast heat wave set to snap soon
By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Updated May 28, 2021 11:34 PM EDT
AccuWeather forecasters say there is one more day of blistering heat to face in the southeastern United States, but relief is on the not-too-distant horizon as much cooler and less humid air is forecast to sweep through the region during the Memorial Day weekend.
High temperatures in the low to middle 90s F are pretty much a given during the dog days of July and August in the Southern states. Some in the South may even argue that the high heat over a two- to three-month period is long enough. Temperatures at and above this level during late May are not only premature, but also close to daily record territory.
The combination of temperature, humidity and intense sunshine has pushed AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures to dangerous levels, even by Southern standards. RealFeel® Temperatures are projected to peak near and above the 100-degree mark into the end of the week.
Whether you are a long-time Southerner or a recent northern transplant, caution is advised with conditions this extreme when considering manual labor or vigorous physical exercise outdoors. Regardless of the amount of physical activity, AccuWeather forecasters recommend taking breaks from the heat and drinking plenty of water.
Actual temperatures experienced much of this week and those forecast on Friday in most locations are 8-15 degrees above average for late May -- and even a few degrees above average for the heart of the summer.
While there has been and will continue to be some day-to-day temperature variation in part of the region, highs will generally range from the middle to upper 80s in the southern Appalachians to the 90s elsewhere for the balance of this week.
On Tuesday, the record high of 90 set in 1953 was tied at Tri Cities Airport in Tennessee. Jackson, Kentucky, set a new record high of 89 on Tuesday, breaking the old daily record of 88 set last year and in 2019.
On Wednesday, Raleigh, North Carolina tied its record of 94 degrees. A bit farther to the north, Lynchburg, Virginia tied a record high of 93 degrees.
Some daily record highs can be challenged into the end of the week. However, in general most record highs are likely to be just out of reach from this point forward as an uptick in moisture in the air into Friday will limit the ability for temperatures to soar as high.
A strong push of cool air is forecast to be extensive and borderline rare for late May this weekend, thanks to a substantial dip in the jet stream and northerly winds.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
This major push of cool air follows a weak push from Wednesday to Thursday across Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. Temperatures reached 83 degrees in Nashville, Tennessee, Wednesday afternoon following highs in the lower 90s each day since Sunday. Following a high of 94 degrees on Wednesday in Charlottesville, Virginia, the high temperature was 88 degrees on Thursday.
"After several days where RealFeel® Temperatures are expected to surpass 100 degrees from Georgia to the Carolinas, a major cooldown is anticipated during the weekend with temperatures dropping anywhere from 10 to 20 degrees lower than what they will be Thursday and Friday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.
The spread of cooler and less humid air will be a gradual one, and not a massive, fast-moving sweep that tends to occur during the early spring.
"Relief will first be felt from the northern Gulf states to North Carolina on Saturday, while areas from South Carolina to northern Florida will continue to swelter," Anderson said.
Related:
For example, following a high near 90 on Thursday, highs in Charlotte, North Carolina, will trend downward from 89 on Friday to 83 on Saturday and a then a chilly 70 on Sunday. Clouds are expected to rule during the day on Sunday as the cooler air drills in. Following the chance of a shower during the day, sky conditions are forecast to clear Sunday night.
Temperatures are projected to fall through the 60s and may dip into the upper 50s during the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday evening.
This may be close to the coolest 600-mile spring race on record at Charlotte. "The lowest maximum temperature on race day was 67 on May 30, 1971," AccuWeather Senior Weather Editor Jesse Ferrell said.
Restrictions have been lifted for all races through this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
"By Sunday, the leading edge of cooler air should reach as far south as northern Florida before it stalls out," Anderson said.
On Memorial Day, morning low temperatures will range from the upper 40s to near 50 over the southern Appalachians to near 60 along the Carolina coast and near 70 along the upper Gulf coast.
Widespread highs in the lower to middle 80s are forecast from the Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley with highs projected to be in the 70s from upstate South Carolina to much of North Carolina and Virginia on Monday. Temperatures and overall humidity levels will be below late-may standards for the Southern states. Daytime highs are typically about 5 degrees higher and nighttime lows 5-10 degrees higher on May 31.
As the cooler and less humid air advances and clashes with the excessive heat and humid conditions currently in place, showers and thunderstorms are likely to erupt during the latter part of the week. The southward dip in the jet stream may provide enough vigor for some of the storms to become severe.
Brief rainfall might be welcomed in parts of the Carolinas and Georgia, as these areas were experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions, according to the United States Drought Monitor report from May 20.
"Near and just north of where the cool air boundary slows and stalls over the weekend and early next week, there is the risk of thunderstorms, which may be locally heavy with the risk of small hail and flash flooding, especially along the Gulf coast and along the southern Atlantic coast," Anderson said.
As is usually the case this time of year, the cool spell will be brief.
"The jet stream is expected to lift back to the north next week, with a gradual return to very warm and humid conditions is in store," Anderson added.
But while humidity levels will return to typical early June, Southern standards, temperatures should not reach the extreme levels of that this week in most locations. Average highs next week will generally be in the 80s to near 90 over the region.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
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