Memphis is starting Friday under clear skies and around 79 degrees, but the calm morning will give way to a dangerous afternoon. Temperatures are expected to reach 101 degrees, with heat-index values climbing as high as 113.
A Heat Advisory now runs through 8 p.m. Sunday, while a Code Orange ozone alert covers Shelby County and the surrounding region Friday. The latest update extends the heat threat beyond Hoodline's Thursday coverage and adds a separate air-quality concern.
Triple-Digit Heat Dominates The Weekend
Friday will stay sunny, with light winds mostly between 0 and 5 mph and only a small chance of rain. Isolated showers or thunderstorms could develop mainly east of the Mississippi River, but Memphis is not expected to see meaningful rainfall.
Saturday and Sunday will each reach about 101 degrees under mostly sunny skies. A weak front should turn winds northerly or northeasterly by Sunday, but it is expected to shift the wind more than the temperature; Labor Day will still reach near 99 degrees.
Warm Nights Offer Little Relief
Friday night will be mostly clear with a low around 77, while the heat index could remain as high as 108. Saturday night should also fall only to about 77, followed by a low near 76 Sunday night.
The heat pattern is expected to continue into next week, with highs near 99 degrees Tuesday, 98 Wednesday and 98 Thursday. Overnight lows should remain in the mid to upper 70s, leaving little chance for homes, pavement or people to cool down fully.
Ozone Alert Raises Outdoor Health Concerns
The Shelby County Health Department says Friday's ozone levels may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including active children and adults and people with respiratory conditions such as asthma. The National Weather Service recommends limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, staying hydrated, using air conditioning when possible and checking on relatives and neighbors.
Outdoor work, exercise and errands are safest early in the morning or after sunset, though nighttime conditions will remain warm. Anyone who feels dizzy, weak, nauseated or unusually tired should move to a cooler place and seek medical help if symptoms worsen.
