As Georgia heads into the weekend, residents are preparing for a wave of extreme heat and humidity that is expected to make conditions feel oppressive.
Meteorologist Lindsay Marlow, based in Peachtree City, emphasized the peak of this heat wave will hit on Sunday, warning that temperatures could feel like 104 degrees in Atlanta, with Athens, Columbus, and Macon reaching up to 107 or 108 degrees.
“Not normal summer heat for Georgia — this is definitely going to be magnitudes higher than we typically expect to see, especially for this time of year,” Marlow stated in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The soaring temperatures will not simply be a one-time event; the humidity will maintain this discomfort for several days. By Monday, as many school sports teams take to the field for practice, the National Weather Service (NWS) projects that the heat index will exceed 106 degrees in Atlanta, possibly climbing to 109 the following day.
Athens, Columbus, and Macon may feel even hotter, with readings surpassing 110 degrees.
Anticipating these hazardous conditions, the NWS is likely to issue a blanket heat advisory across much of Georgia this weekend, and an extreme heat warning could also be forthcoming. If issued, it would mark the first extreme heat warning for Atlanta in two years.
High humidity levels exacerbate the heat, making it harder for the body to cool itself as sweat evaporation slows down in saturated air. This poses significant health risks, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and pregnant individuals who need to take precautions.
With high school football conditioning in full swing and practices set to intensify, coaches are being urged to monitor the heat conditions closely. Marlow noted, “We have some additional concerns as far as sports practices that have come back for middle schools and high schools. We’re going to have truly dangerous conditions.”
The Georgia High School Association has established guidelines to help protect athletes, including restrictions on practice durations and the frequency of sessions during the summer months.
This summer has already been forecasted to be more muggy than usual, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted hotter and wetter conditions for much of the South.
Temperatures on Monday and Tuesday are expected to climb 10-13 degrees higher than average, providing a greater chance of breaking high-temperature records in Atlanta.
The historical records for these days are set at 101 degrees for Monday and 103 degrees for Tuesday, both established in 1952. Additionally, the Wednesday record of 98 degrees dates back to 1980 and 1986, according to the NWS.
Adding to the discomfort, nighttime temperatures are not expected to dip much lower than the mid- to high-70s, which may impede air conditioning systems from adequately cooling homes, worsening the overall heat experience.
In summary, preparations are necessary as Georgia faces a severe heat wave that will feel incredibly oppressive, with the heat index pushing this summer heat to dangerous levels.
As Marlow puts it succinctly, it’s going to be “really, really hot,” so residents are urged to stay hydrated and heed safety precautions during this challenging climate.
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