The summer of 2025 will begin with a blistering heat wave as temperatures soar into the mid- and upper 90s, and a sizzling heat index is forecast to exceed 100 degrees in the coming week.
Weather experts are warning of dangerous heat across the South.
“Saturday and Sunday here we’ll be seeing temperatures in the low 90s, dew points will kind of be around the upper 60s to low 70s percentage range, which will give us some heat index in the mid- to upper 90s over Saturday and Sunday,” National Weather Service meteorologist Kyle Snowden said in a phone interview. “The heat indices on Sunday could be approaching 100.”
Peak temperatures might not happen until the work week, Snowden said.
“In the Monday through Wednesday time frame, we’ll be in the mid- to upper 90s for the ambient temperatures, which could definitely result in some heat indices approaching the 105 mark,” Snowden said.
(READ MORE: Chattanooga’s May rainfall breaks 1929 record)
Temperatures will peak Tuesday and Wednesday, he said, “but Thursday and Friday will continue to be hot in the mid-90s as well,” Snowden said.
The coming high heat will pose dangers in the region and across the nation.
“You can definitely start experiencing some heat exhaustion or heat stroke symptoms during these conditions, if you’re not drinking fluids regularly or taking breaks,” he said.
Heat records
— Hottest days in Chattanooga: 107 degrees, June 30, 2012, and July 1, 2012
— Hottest day in Tennessee: 113 degrees in Perryville, Aug. 9, 1930
— Hottest recorded temperature on Earth: 134 degrees, Greenland Ranch, Death Valley, California, July 10, 1913
Source: National Weather Service
HEAT SAFETY
In the face of the coming heat wave, the American Red Cross issued a statement Friday urging people to take precautions.
— Stay hydrated by drinking a cup of water every hour, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid sugary, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks.
— Stay cool by spending time in air-conditioned places. If your home is too hot, go to a mall, library or cooling center.
— Stay connected by checking on others and asking for help if you need it. Don’t forget to make sure pets have access to fresh water and shade.
“Heat can be deadly, and it’s important to not overlook this invisible threat,” Tennessee’s regional chief executive officer for the Red Cross, Joel Sullivan, said in the statement. “While anyone can be affected by extreme heat, it can be especially dangerous for older adults, the very young, pregnant women, outdoor workers and those with chronic conditions or disabilities. Here in Tennessee, you can help keep people safe by looking out for your loved ones and neighbors.”
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The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America wants families affected by the disease to take precautions over the next few days.
“Extreme heat is especially dangerous for someone with dementia, because dementia can impair their ability to notice if they are developing heat stroke or dehydration,” Senior Director of Educational and Social Services Jennifer Reeder said in a foundation news release. “Taking a few simple steps will go a long way to help caregivers keep their loved one with dementia safe during the heat wave.”
Heat wave kicks off summer, upper 90s forecast till Thursday
The foundation recommends that families take steps to prevent wandering, help the person stay hydrated, watch for warning signs of heat-related illnesses, know where to cool down and dress them comfortably. Keep medical information and emergency contact information handy.
GOOD NEWS
Thanks to a long stretch of plentiful rain in the spring, the U.S. Drought Monitor shows the state of Tennessee and most of the South has no indications of drought or abnormal dryness. Rainfall in Chattanooga in May broke the record set in 1929 of 12 inches, edging out the 96-year-old mark with 12.02 inches of rain for the month, according to weather service data.
Drought conditions were quenched in every southern state but Florida and Texas, according to the monitor’s June 17 report. Even most of Florida experienced drought relief, though pockets of severe drought persisted across Florida’s peninsula, and there was even some expansion of dryness along Florida’s east coast, where recent rainfall has been light.
Downpours in parts of Texas, the only state in the region still experiencing drought, delivered significant relief but also sparked flooding, according to the report. Deadly flash flooding hit the San Antonio area June 12, when 6.11 inches fell at one observation site — the second-wettest June day on record in that location, behind 6.18 inches on June 3, 1951.
(READ MORE: State climate office says 2024 Chattanooga’s warmest year on record)
Recent heavy rain across the South offered relief from dry conditions, but it also hampered crop planting for some agricultural producers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly weather and crop report for June 17. Even so, about 67% of corn and soybean crops in Tennessee were rated in good or excellent condition by June 15.
‘RAPID DRYING’
As temperatures rise, forecasters at the Tennessee Climate Office at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City are watching for negative impacts while reporting above-average precipitation for the month. Records show rainfall in early June, at 3.13 inches so far, has already exceeded the normal for June of 2.53 inches. That rain has kept soil moisture high and the state free from the threat of drought.
“We continue to be all clear, but the approaching heat wave may lead to rapid drying in some areas next week,” state climatologist Andrew Joiner said in an email.
At the end of 2024, the Chattanooga region and surrounding areas were left with a year-to-year rain deficit of 15 inches in Chattanooga to 20 inches or more in southern Rhea County, according to the weather service. Following a wet spring and record-setting rains in May, total rainfall accumulation gained some ground on the rain shortfall.
The next couple of weeks still look relatively dry, Snowden said.
“Looking at the latest eight- to 14-day temperature outlook from the Climate Prediction Center — that is June 27 to July 3 — it looks like they still have above-normal temperatures for that time period,” he said, referring to the federal agency’s Norman, Oklahoma, forecasting operation.
A similar pattern will likely continue as June steams into July, Snowden said.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.