Dangerous Heat Shifts Across the Plains and South
Dangerous late-summer heat is expected to expand from the Southwest and Texas across the central and southern Plains this weekend, with the threat potentially extending toward the Mississippi Valley, Midwest and South during the following week, according to a National Weather Service forecast update issued August 27.
The Weather Prediction Center’s extended forecast covers Sunday, August 30, through Thursday, September 3. It says significant heat will remain across the Southern Plains before expanding northeastward through the south-central United States and the lower and middle Mississippi Valley. Later in the period, heat could reach parts of the Ohio Valley, the South and the Southeast.
This is a forecast, not a federal emergency or disaster declaration. Conditions will vary by community, and local National Weather Service offices will issue the warnings, advisories and other guidance that apply to specific locations.
Why hot nights matter
One concern in the forecast is limited overnight relief. When nighttime temperatures remain unusually high, the body has less opportunity to recover from daytime heat exposure. That can raise the risk of heat-related illness during a prolonged stretch of hot or humid weather.
Recent Associated Press reporting on the broader heat pattern described heat advisories from the central Plains to the Southeast, with some locations approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit and heat-index values reaching much higher in humid areas. The report also said overnight lows were expected to remain in the 70s in many places. That broader reporting provides context but does not independently confirm every detail of the August 30-September 3 forecast.
Exact local temperatures, heat-index values, timing and warning categories can change as shorter-range forecasts are issued. Residents should check their local forecast and HeatRisk level rather than relying only on a broad regional outlook.
What the next outlook says
A separate Climate Prediction Center hazards outlook issued August 27 identifies a moderate risk of extreme heat for parts of the Central and Southern Plains, the Middle and Lower Mississippi Valley, western portions of the Tennessee and Ohio valleys, and the Southeast from Friday, September 4, through Sunday, September 6.
The same outlook extends a slight risk of extreme heat across parts of the Great Plains, Mississippi and Ohio valleys, Tennessee Valley, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic through Tuesday, September 8. It also identifies rapid-onset drought risk in portions of the Central and Southern Plains and the Lower and Middle Mississippi Valley. That is a forecast concern, not a confirmed drought declaration or separate emergency.
Who faces higher risk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies older adults, infants and children, people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant people, athletes, outdoor workers and people without air conditioning as groups that can face increased risk during extreme heat.
People exercising or working outside can become dehydrated more quickly. Families should also consider heat inside homes, vehicles, school buses and athletic facilities, particularly when overnight temperatures stay elevated.
Practical steps for the weekend
Check the local forecast and the CDC HeatRisk Dashboard before outdoor work, exercise, travel or sports. Schedule strenuous activity for cooler hours when possible, take regular breaks in a cool place and drink water before becoming thirsty.
If air conditioning is unavailable, plan ahead. The CDC recommends spending time in an air-conditioned public location or cooling shelter, contacting a local health department about available sites and checking on friends or neighbors. Libraries, shopping centers and community centers may provide temporary relief where local officials make them available. Fans may provide comfort, but the CDC warns that they should not be the only protection during extreme heat.
Never leave children, older adults or pets in a parked vehicle, even for a short time. Watch for symptoms such as headache, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, weakness, confusion or loss of consciousness. Heat stroke is a medical emergency: call 911 and move the person to a cooler place while waiting for help.
What employers should review
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends providing cool drinking water near the work area, limiting time in the heat, allowing recovery breaks in a cool location and using a buddy system so workers can watch for symptoms.
Employers should also review heat-alert procedures, worker training and acclimatization plans. NIOSH recommends gradually increasing exposure to hot conditions over seven to 14 days, especially for new or returning workers.
Local details will continue to change. For warnings, cooling-center announcements and public-health instructions, residents should rely on their local National Weather Service office and local health authorities.
Sources
- NWS Weather Prediction Center forecast discussion issued August 27
- NWS Climate Prediction Center U.S. Hazards Outlook issued August 27
- CDC guidance on people at increased risk from heat
- Associated Press national heat coverage
Look for updates to this story
Discover more from Interactive News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.