Higher Humidity Prompts Another Heat Advisory, Few Pop Up Storms as Well, Extreme Heat Next Week!

WBBJ 7 Forecast Update:

The temperatures will be lower over the weekend but with the south flow of winds and increasing humidity, it is off setting what would have been a break in the extreme heat. Dewpoints have climbed to almost 80 degrees and that will have a big effect on the heat index unfortunately. As a result, another heat advisory has been issued for a good portion of west Tennessee through 9 pm tonight. An Extreme Heat Warning will in effect for parts of northwest Tennessee as well, meaning heat index readings at 110 or higher at some points in the day.

With this weekend ahead, it really is the humidity driving the problems and not so much the actual temperatures as they will be lower. A day of 92 degrees is not to bad with around 20 or 30 degree dewpoints, but will dewpoints in the upper 70’s, there lies the problem!

The heat index was again been above 105° for most of the afternoon across sections of West Tennessee again for our Friday. Early day clouds may block the sun some and a few pop ups will be possible again this weekend with chances being a bit higher on Saturday than Sunday. Speaking of pop ups, more are developing this evening with some lightning, heavy rain and isolated microburst type wind gusts will be possible this evening with any storms that pop. We will be tracking everything on the radar and have the latest on the heat and extreme heat coming next week, catch the full forecast right here.

THIS WEEK:

Some pop up showers and storms continued on Friday with chances going back up t0 40% as another weak stalled out front should sit just to the north of us in combination with some heat and humidity driven pops up as well that will continue into the evening hours. The front will not stick around this weekend but another one will approach from the north but will likely not reach us as well. There were more clouds on Friday that in the middle of the week and a light breeze out of the south continued.

Highs will still each up to around 93° but it still felt in the mid 100s and a heat advisory was out for the western half of West Tennessee. We will drop down only to the mid 70s tonight and it will be another warm and muddy night. Some of the storms may linger until midnight before the taper off in Saturday morning.

THIS WEEKEND:

The weather this weekend will be very similar to the weather we are going to have as we finish the work week. That means highs will stay in the low 90s with a heat index in the mid 100s. Pop up showers and storm chances are also expected this weekend with chances at 30% on Saturday and 20% on Sunday. Like last weekend though, do not cancel your outdoor plans, just be weather aware and make sure you find shelter if a storm is heading to your area.

The storms this weekend are unlikely to be severe but they could produce some brief heavy rain as well as some lightning. Morning lows will fall to the low to mid 70s. We could be put under a level 1 (marginal risk) for severe storms on Saturday but an upgrade to a level 2 seems unlikely for over the weekend or really, anytime in the near forecast. The winds will come out of the south or southwest this weekend and expect partly cloudy skies.

NEXT WEEK:

Showers and storm chances will be low for the first half of next week but the heat and humidity will be in full force. Highs next week are forecast to reach the upper 90s with a heat index up to or greater than 110°. A heat advisory is coming for sure and possibly our first excessive heat warnings of the summer. To get an excessive heat warning, the heat index needs to be above 110° and around 115° which seems possible at this time from Tuesday through Thursday. Overnight lows will only fall to the mid to upper 70s for most of next week as well. We are expecting mostly sunny skies and rain chances next week appear to be in the 10-20% chance is all each day. Please be prepared for the hottest weather of the summer so far for next week!

Brian Davis
Storm Team 7 Meteorologist
Twitter – @Brian7wbbj
Facebook – Briandaviswbbj
Email – Badavis@wbbjtv.com