How long will record-challenging heat continue to bake the southern US?
Record-challenging heat will continue to make it feel like the middle of summer across much of the southern United States this week.
The scorching heat was enough to set daily record temperatures in places like Jacksonville, Florida, and Charleston, South Carolina, this past Saturday. The record-challenging heat will continue to grip much of the South through week's end as an expansive dome of high pressure controls the region's weather.
Normal high temperatures for the second week of September across the South range from the middle 80s to lower 90s F.
Highs in the middle 90s to near 100 are forecast over a broad area.
AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will be several degrees higher than the actual temperature during the mid- to late-afternoon hours.
Temperatures will peak within a few degrees of daily record highs in Atlanta this week.
Records date back to as early as 1900, which is the case on Thursday. Back in 1925, there was an eight-day string of record highs that remain in tact from Sept. 3 through 10.
Atlanta fell one degree short of Monday's record high of 100 from 1925. However, the record high of 94 from 1900 is expected to be shattered with a forecast high of 98 F on Thursday.
Atlanta is not the only city that will be challenging record-high temperatures this week. Nashville and New Orleans, as well as Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama, and dozens of other locations will all experience record-challenging heat.
Numerous records were tied or broken across the South on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Adding in other factors like humidity, wind and the amount of sunlight, Accuweather RealFeel® Temperatures will exceed the century mark for much of the South.
On top of the heat, the air mass overhead will also limit the chances for a cooling shower or thunderstorm. Portions of the Deep South and Southeast are in a slight to moderate drought, and the upcoming forecast would only suggest these drought areas will expand in the coming week.
A stagnant air mass overhead will also lead to air quality issues across much of the South, especially in urban areas and locales that do not receive any rainfall. Children and people sensitive to high levels of ozone and pollutants in the air are urged to take caution while heading outdoors.
With football season underway, it is also important for athletes to take necessary precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses. Taking frequent water breaks and avoiding exercise during the peak heating afternoon hours can limit the chance of falling victim to the heat.
"While the sun angle continues to lower in the sky as we approach the autumnal equinox, anyone spending prolonged time outside should remember to remain hydrated and apply sunscreen," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun stated.
A break in the heat is possible this weekend as AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring a tropical wave that may cross Florida and reach the Gulf of Mexico. Regardless of the extent of tropical development, more widespread showers and thunderstorms across the Deep South will likely keep afternoon high temperatures closer to seasonable readings for mid-September.
Download the free AccuWeather app to keep track of temperature trends in your area. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
