After weeks of triple-digit heat, a quick glance at the RTMA Temperature Anomaly map shows that the South Central US is now, more or less, back to near-average.

While the humidity still allows it to “feel like” around 100 degrees, the ridges, although relatively weak, now inhabit the Southwest Desert. Stronger currents in the Gulf of Alaska are also keeping the Pacific Northwest much higher than average at this time.

However, don’t expect this respite from the heat to be long.

As we move into next week, the synoptic pattern becomes a little less amplified and a little more regional. This allowed a wide and sturdy ridge to develop over the southern half of the country.

Note the short appearance of the 597 dm border around the Tuesday/Wednesday timeframe. This indicates very hot, rising air above the surface. The CPC . Hazard Outlook agree with this analysis, as they outline most of the southern half of the United States at risk of “mild” extreme heat for part of next week.

Looking ahead to the potential maximum temperature, we can easily see the return, advance, and elongation of that 100 F contour.

When we add that moist air, especially east of the Rockies, temperatures “look like” can quickly soar back to 110+ F.

Let’s not forget overnight lows, also. When the temperature does not drop below 80 degrees in some places, the body will struggle to re-establish the heat of the day. Heat exhaustion/stroke more likely

Since summer has definitely arrived and it’s time to bake the Southern United States in your oven, now would be a good time to consider heat safety tips before the temperatures rise again.

• Reduce or rearrange outdoor activities to avoid exposure to the sun and extreme heat.
• Wear light, loose, light-colored clothing.
• Keep water. Drink water even if you don’t feel thirsty.
• Stay as cool as you can.
  • Use air conditioning if available.
  • Close the sunshade during the day to reduce the indoor temperature.
  • Take a cool shower or bath if needed.
• Check up on your friends, family and neighbors – especially if they are older or sick. Make sure they stay calm and offer help if needed.

These tips and other heat safety tips can be found through National Weather Service.

We’ll keep you updated on this potential heatwave as we move into next week!

About the author

Meghan Gulledge

Meteorologist – ’22 Mississippi State Writer for Weather.us and Weathermodels.com. Focus on weather communication. BoyMom x1, CatMom ​​x5. Twitter: @MegGulledgeWX