Brief Break in the Heat, Hot & Storm Chances Back this Weekend
WBBJ 7 Forecast Update
WBBJ 7 Forecast Update:
Behind last night’s weak front, temperatures are a bit cooler today and the humidity is lower for most of us. Those northeast winds will stick around tonight making for a mild evening in West Tennessee. The cool down will be short lived as warmer and more humid weather will return for the weekend. There will also be some showers and storm chances this weekend as well. We will have the latest forecast details coming up here.
TONIGHT:
Thursday was a rain free day in our area behind the front. The weather was also cooler and drier due to the change in the wind direction. We saw a partly cloudy day again and the winds on Thursday will came out of the northeast helping to keep the humidity down a bit. Highs on Thursday still made it up to around 90° though. Many of us will drop into the upper 60s overnight before we kick off our Friday. Expect a pleasant quiet night for all of us.
FRIDAY:
Another area of high pressure will move in on Friday pushing what is left of the lingering front off to the east. This will bring a return on the southerly winds increasing both the temperature and humidity again across the Mid South. Highs on Friday will heat back up to the mid 90s and Friday night lows will only fall to the mid 70s to kick off the upcoming weekend. The southerly winds will bring some clouds around of Friday and although a brief heat/humidity driven pop up or two will be possible, chances are only 10% as of now.
THE WEEKEND:
Another hot start to the weekend is on the way for West Tennessee. The winds are forecast to come out of the southwest on Saturday and the humidity will be an issue as well. We might see another heat advisory issued on Saturday but things are forecast to cool down some on Sunday. Showers and storms are also expected to return over the weekend with chances for rain already at 50% on Sunday and 30% on Saturday. Highs will make it up to the mid 90s on Saturday and low 90s on Sunday depending on the timing of the showers and storms. The winds will shift to the southwest on Saturday and then back to the northwest on Sunday, but back to the northeast by Monday behind a late weekend cold front.
NEXT WEEK:
Monday is going to be another cooler day with highs in the upper 80s with mostly sunny skies. The northerly winds on Monday is why we are going to see a nice and mild day. The winds will shift back to the south on Tuesday starting another heat wave across the Mid South. Highs in the middle of the week will be back up into the mid to upper 90s. The humidity will also return in the middle of the week and that could lead to some pop up heat and humidity driven showers and storms on Wednesday and Thursday as well.
FINAL THOUGHT:
We have already had one major heat spell for the last weekend of Spring and the first full week of summer is also going to be a hot one. We have hit 96/97 so far in Jackson but could top the mark not only on Tuesday, but maybe on Saturday as well this week. Highs are not forecast to drop below 90° anytime soon. There will be two rounds of showers and storms this week as well. One coming in on Wednesday and another one on Sunday. We cannot 100% rule out of a shower any day this week but chances are 10% or less most days.
HEAT SAFETY TIPS:
The CDC reports that around 700 people per year die from heat related deaths. It’s important to know the signs of heat related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or a heat stroke.
The best way to beat the heat is to know the signs of these heat related illnesses, stay hydrated, and try to keep cool.
Heat exhaustion is a very serious heat related illness. According to the CDC, the following are signs of heat exhaustion:
• Heavy sweating
• Cold, pale, and clammy skin
• Fast, weak pulse
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• Tiredness or weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Fainting (passing out)
And the CDC recommends the following for someone who is suffering from heat exhaustion:
• Move to a cool place
• Loosen your clothes
• Put cool, wet cloths on your body or take a cool bath
• Sip water
Get medical help right away if:
• You are throwing up
• Your symptoms get worse
• Your symptoms last longer than 1 hour
Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures or heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, if not cautious.
According to the CDC website the following are signs of Heat Stroke:
• High body temperature (103°F or higher)
• Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
• Fast, strong pulse
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Losing consciousness (passing out)
And the best way according to the CDC to treat heat stroke is to do the following:
• Call 911 right away, heat stroke is a medical emergency
• Move the person to a cooler place
• Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath
• Do not give the person anything to drink
The severe heat can cause other heat related illnesses. Sunburns, sometimes severe, are always a possibility with exposure to sun. It is so important to always wear sunscreen and try to wear clothing or accessories like hats to prevent sun damage.
Stay informed of heat related illnesses, drink plenty of water and stay hydrated, and be mindful of feeling overheated. Seek shelter from the sun and hot temps when its possible, and keep a check on relatives or friends who may be affected by the extreme temperatures.
Find our more information on heat related illnesses and prevention from the CDC website here.
For tips on preparing for storms, click here. To download the WBBJ 7 Weather app, click here.
Storm Team Chief Meteorologist
Joel Barnes
Facebook: @JoelBarnesWeather
Twitter: @JoelBarnes13
Instagram: @joelbarnes13
