A large area of hot and humid air across the southern U.S. is forecast by
all the computer models and objective guidance to spread across at least
30 states by this weekend. Within this airmass, a considerable area of
dangerous heat is likely to set up across a significant portion of the
central and southern United States. This heat is
currently forecast to last through almost the entire week.
In the red outlined area, heat indicies during the afternoon are expected to be 100 degrees or higher during the forecast period.
In these graphics below, areas in brown/tan are heat indicies forecast to be
between 100 and 105 degrees, while areas in pink are forecast to be
between 105 and 120 degrees.
7/16
7/17
7/18
7/19
7/20
While the forecast only goes through next week, guidance suggests this
could last through next weekend. There might be a short, modest break with
the heat on Tuesday, when a weak cold front passes into the area. But that
goes back north as a warm front on Wednesday, and all indications are that
we stay hot the rest of the week.