The summer-like stretch is not ready to quit. Temperatures are expected to approach 90 for two days, with feels-like readings in the mid- to upper 90s.
Storm Chances Favor Areas North Of I-40
Wednesday could bring scattered storms, with the greatest storm potential generally north of Interstate 40. Any storms should fade by early evening.
Thursday brings another near-90 day before cooler conditions arrive Friday.
Cooler Conditions Arrive Friday
Friday is expected to be cooler, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s.
Dry air and stronger winds may lower relative humidity to 35% Friday afternoon, raising wildfire danger across the region. The National Weather Service in Memphis advises caution around outdoor flames, particularly as fallen leaves and other dry vegetation accumulate in yards and parks.
Past Fires And Broader Dryness Context
A historical comparison offers context, not a prediction for Memphis: U.S. Forest Service Research and Development describes more than a dozen large wildfires in the southern Appalachian Mountains in late fall 2016, when leaf fall coincided with anomalously dry, warm weather. That separate past outbreak does not establish a current fire threat in Memphis. For a broader dryness measure, Drought.gov’s Shelby County page lists September as the driest on record over the past 132 years. That record is background context, not a measure of Friday’s forecast fire-weather conditions.
Fall Finally Shows Up For The Weekend
Friday night will feel noticeably cooler, with mostly clear skies, north winds and a low near 48 degrees. Weekend lows are expected to be in the 40s.
