What to Expect as the Mercury Reaches Century Mark in Much of Texas

The energy grid in Texas is likely to be stressed into Thursday as temperatures climb past the century mark. Here is a look at the sizzling forecast for the Lone Star State.

Soaring Temperatures in Texas Increase Energy Demands

It is going to feel like the middle of July throughout much of Texas this week as the mercury surges into the triple digits. Highs will reach this level in major metro areas such as Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas by Thursday afternoon. Forecasters are predicting that daily high records will fall in several cities as temperatures climb way over the historical average. Temperatures in the middle of May tend to hover in the 80s for average readings.

The presence of ample sunshine and higher humidity levels will send the real feel readings even higher than the actual air temperatures. Residents will want to be mindful that their bodies may not be acclimated to this level of heat.

Energy demands will be high as the heat spreads across the state. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) provides power for the bulk of the region. Officials confirmed that the provider anticipates a demand of almost 84,000 megawatts during the peak afternoon heating hours on Wednesday. The all-time energy demand record for Texas is over 85,500 megawatts, dating back to the summer of 2023.

ERCOT said that it does not expect to have difficulties providing the necessary power to residents on Wednesday. The company said that it expects to have a capacity of over 108,000 megawatts, well over what is needed to provide for residents.

Energy demand is predicted to dip below 80,000 megawatts on Thursday and Friday as the heat begins to ease. Local officials are also opening cooling centers throughout the state for those who need to find relief.

This is a good time to remind people that heat is the deadliest type of extreme weather in the U.S. Heat waves account for more deaths per year than the combination of hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, and lightning. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there were 55 heat-related deaths in the U.S. in the year 2023. The numbers from 2024 have not yet been confirmed.