Mid-Southerners have
gotten a treat over the last couple days when it comes to the weather, thanks to
some cooler temperatures and lower humidity, making for some very enjoyable
afternoons and evenings. However, as you might expect as we head towards Memorial Day weekend, this pleasant weather will soon be over. Get the sunscreen and
swimming pool gear out because the heat takes over in the coming days with record temperatures looking increasingly likely by this weekend.
The heat begins to build
on Thursday as highs return to the 90 degree mark, though humidity values will
remain somewhat low keeping outdoor conditions from becoming too uncomfortable. That
begins to change on Friday and especially over the weekend as highs reach the middle 90s and increasing humidity sends heat index values near the
century mark for the first time in 2012. These temperatures will put high temperature records in
jeopardy for at least Saturday and Sunday, and possibly Monday (Memorial Day) as
well. Low temperatures will also be near record warm levels, as numbers only
bottom out in the mid-70s, especially in the Memphis “heat island.”
So what will cause this
stretch of heat? A building high pressure ridge at the mid and upper levels of
the atmosphere will set up directly over the region, creating a “dome” of heat that
will cover much of the Southeast U.S., but especially the Mid-South. This high
pressure ridge will block any rainfall or significant cloud cover from
developing, allowing the heat to continually build through the weekend. A high pressure ridge of this strength normally
isn’t a factor in our weather until the middle of summer, thus the
near-record temperatures we are expecting.
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| As depicted by the GFS model - the high pressure "heat dome" will park itself over the Mid-South for the weekend. Active weather will be hundreds of miles away. |
In addition to the heat,
the stagnant pattern the high pressure ridge will produce may also create poor
air quality issues. As winds remain light this weekend, the atmosphere will not be able to “mix
out” various pollutants that build up through the day. As a result, more “Code
Orange” days will be possible, particularly on Saturday, Sunday, and Memorial
Day. That may make prolonged outdoor activities in the afternoons and early
evenings unhealthy, especially for those with respiratory diseases like asthma.
Fortunately, there is
some hope for relief in the foreseeable future. It appears the high pressure
ridge will begin to break down late on Memorial Day but especially Tuesday into
Wednesday as a new storm system and associated cold front begin to approach
from the west (see graphic below). This should allow for increasing clouds, some rain chances, and
slightly cooler temperatures to filter back into the area for the middle of
next week.
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| NWS surface weather forecast for next Tuesday |
With hot weather arriving just in time for Memorial Day weekend, and many of you likely planning outdoor events, be sure to plan appropriately for this early bout of summer heat. You can find a few heat-related safety tips in this MWN Blog post.This is particularly true given the possibility of poor air quality. You can learn more about poor air quality and it's effects on sensitive groups, as well as find additional links in this previous MWN Blog post. MemphisWeather.Net will keep you updated over the next several days, including passing along any air quality alerts that are issued.
--Kevin Terry, MemphisWeather.Net
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For weather information for Memphis and the Mid-South, where and when you need it, visit MemphisWeather.net on the web, m.memphisweather.net on your mobile phone, download our iPhone or Android apps, or visit us on Facebook or Twitter.
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