Memphis woke to clear skies and temperatures near 79 degrees Wednesday, but the easy morning is giving way to a dangerous run of heat. The high is expected to reach 99 degrees, with the heat index climbing as high as 107. A Heat Advisory takes effect at 11 a.m. Wednesday and continues through 8 p.m. Saturday.
Wednesday will stay sunny, with south-southwest winds of 0 to 5 mph offering little relief. The National Weather Service says hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses across the Memphis area and surrounding parts of the Mid-South.
Thursday And Friday Keep Memphis Sweltering
Thursday brings another sunny 99-degree high, while the heat index could reach 109. Friday may be the hottest day for actual temperatures, with a high near 100 under mostly sunny skies. Winds should remain light, and rain chances stay low at 6% Thursday and 3% Friday.
A few isolated afternoon showers are possible Thursday and Friday, particularly elsewhere across the region, but they are unlikely to provide meaningful relief in Memphis. Saturday remains sunny and hot, with a high near 99 and only a 13% chance of rain.
Overnight Lows Won’t Offer Much Relief
Tonight and Thursday night will bottom out around 79 degrees, followed by lows near 78 Friday and Saturday night. Sunday night could dip to 76, but the heat returns for Labor Day with a high near 98, followed by 97 degrees Tuesday.
That limited overnight cooling means homes, vehicles and bodies may not get much time to recover between hot afternoons. The advisory guidance calls for drinking plenty of fluids, staying in air conditioning, avoiding direct sun and checking on relatives and neighbors.
Plan Outdoor Time Before The Afternoon Peak
Outdoor work, exercise and errands will be safer in the morning or later in the evening, before and after the day’s hottest stretch. Anyone who feels dizzy, unusually weak, confused or sick in the heat should move to a cool place and seek medical help if symptoms worsen.
