Dangerous late-summer heat is set to spread across the south-central and southeastern United States this coming week, with forecasters warning the combination of high temperatures and minimal overnight relief could affect more than 30 million people at its peak.
Where It Will Be Worst
Extreme heat warnings are already in place for much of eastern North Carolina and a corner of South Carolina, where temperatures could approach or exceed 100 degrees with heat indexes as high as 115 degrees. Central Florida is expected to see highs in the upper 90s, with heat indexes of 105 to 110 degrees, and similar conditions are forecast up through Georgia and the Carolinas into Virginia.
Cities Facing the Longest Stretch
Raleigh and Charlotte in North Carolina, Greenville-Spartanburg in South Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, are all expected to face several consecutive days of extreme heat risk, with little relief overnight, the kind of sustained heat that raises the risk of heat-related illness even for people accustomed to hot summers.
How to Protect Yourself
Public health officials recommend limiting outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, staying hydrated well before feeling thirsty, checking on elderly neighbors and relatives who may not have reliable air conditioning, and never leaving children or pets in parked vehicles even briefly. Cooling centers typically open in affected cities once extreme heat warnings are in effect, and local governments usually publish their locations through city or county emergency management websites.
