The Southeast is Next Up for the Oppressive Heat and Humidity

While much of the focus on the developing heat dome has been centered over the nation's mid-section, the Southeast will also see the sizzling temperatures heading into the weekend. The heat dome will wobble a bit over the coming days, bringing different areas of the country into the impact zone. Here is a look at what the southeastern U.S. has in store.

The Southeast is Next in Line for Expansive Heat Dome

The rising temperatures will not be the only thing making conditions miserable in the Southeast. An increase in the humidity levels will work to amplify the heat, sending real feel readings soaring.

The heat dome has been anchored over the central U.S. for most of the past few days. By Friday, a part of the dome will break off and move into the Northeast. The Southeast will be up next as the heat dome pushes to the east throughout the weekend and into the early part of next week. The result will be actual temperatures that hover in the upper 90s and real-feel readings that could exceed 110 degrees at times.

A number of southern cities will be under the gun for triple-digit temperatures in the days ahead. Several more areas will see readings that hang around in the 90s for an extended period beginning on Sunday and lingering through at least Thursday.

As anyone who has lived in the South can tell you, it takes extreme heat to cause residents to take notice. This is the time of the year when heat and humidity are commonplace. However, the longevity of this particular heat dome heat wave will create concerns, particularly for vulnerable populations.

A notable absence of wind will combine with the inherently strong sunshine of late July, causing the bulk of the Southeast to bake. The only place to find relief in the region will be along the coastal region and on the barrier islands.

You can expect the mercury to hover at about 5 to 10 degrees above the historical average. Meteorologists are also warning that overnight lows will remain elevated in areas that do not get in on the moisture machine. The inability of the air temperature to cool after the sun goes down will inevitably put a strain on energy systems as air conditioning units will get little break.

Atlanta is forecast to see the temperatures experience an upward trajectory over the next few days, going from the low 90s on Friday to the mid-90s through the weekend. The peak of the heat is expected by Monday and Tuesday, with readings that could hover in the upper 90s. The Peach City has not hit the century mark since last summer.

It has been even longer since Birmingham, Alabama, has seen highs in the triple digits. You have to go back two years to find the last time that this benchmark was reached in the city in the northern part of the state. Birmingham is forecast to come the closest to this barrier on Tuesday.

Chances of Moisture

Sporadic rain showers and gusty storms will provide a brief respite from the heat at times. The cooling effect will come with its own set of risks, with the threat of flash flooding back on the table for this corner of the country. A high amount of moisture in the air will amplify some of the downpours that do develop.

The chance of rain showers or thunderstorms will fire up again on Wednesday afternoon in places such as Birmingham and Atlanta. While the period that follows will not be a washout, residents will want to be aware of the threat of unsettled weather as the month of July comes to a close and August begins.

The greatest concentration of moisture this weekend will be along the Gulf Coast. An influx of tropical moisture circulating in the northern Gulf will fuel the development of these rain showers and storms.

The heat will remain tethered over the Southeast through the weekend and into the early part of next week. Residents can expect relief to arrive by Thursday or Friday. However, the cooldown will come on the heels of a blast of repeated rounds of thunderstorms. The mercury will throttle back into the 80s by the end of the week as humidity levels also continue to slip.

The long-range forecast is calling for the cooler temperatures to linger over the Southeast into the first few days of August. We will continue to update this forecast as residents of this part of the nation begin their back-to-school preparations.

Is the Hottest Time of the Year?

While it may certainly feel like all of the U.S. is dealing with the hottest weather of the year, the toastiest day of the year varies greatly between regions. Most areas in the U.S. see the hottest weather of the year at the end of July, putting this current heat wave right on time.

However, there are outliers to this rule. For instance, the coastal areas of California typically do not see peak readings until September. San Francisco takes even longer to see the warmest temperatures of the year, reaching the peak temperatures on October 2. You can blame the pervasive marine fog that is more prevalent during the summer for this oddity.

The situation is the opposite in the Desert Southwest, a corner of the country that notches the hottest readings in late June. The arrival of the annual North American monsoon season later in July and August works to bring down the temperatures in the Southwest as more moisture moves into the region.

Areas along the Gulf Coast and the Southeast typically experience the hottest day of the year at the beginning of August. Temperatures begin to cool down more quickly earlier in the season to the north. For example, Buffalo sees its peak reading on July 20 on average.

Many people mistakenly believe that the summer solstice would naturally bring the hottest temperatures of the year, as this is when the days are also the longest. However, meteorologists note that the Earth will continue to absorb more heat during the daytime hours through the month of July. This translates to rising temperatures throughout the first half of the summer season.

It is important to note that these temperatures are merely averages. All it takes is one early-season or late-season heat wave to send the averages awry.

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