Texas capital sees triple-digit heat for 35 straight days as South's sweltering summer persists
Over the weekend, the combination of heat and humidity will result in dangerous heat indices, possibly climbing above 110 degrees in some locations.
Sweltering heat continues to bake the South
From Texas to South Carolina, a number of southern states will be under heat alerts throughout the weekend. August 12, 2023.
Blistering temperatures continue to plague the southern U.S. from New Mexico to Florida for yet another week which has caused records to fall.
Austin, Texas, the capital of the Lone Star State, has seen highs in the triple digits for 35 consecutive days. That streak beats the previous record of 27 consecutive triple-digit days in 2011, and it shows no signs of stopping.
Across the South, Heat Advisories and Excessive Heat Warnings remain in place from Texas east across the Gulf Coast states, including the Florida Peninsula, where above-average to record-breaking heat will continue through Sunday.
Most of Texas, Oklahoma, southern Arkansas and southern Mississippi and the entire state of Louisiana are under Excessive Heat Warnings through Sunday evening.
The combination of heat and humidity will result in dangerous heat indices, possibly climbing above 110 degrees in some locations, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Midland, Houston and Dallas are forecast to have temperatures above 100 on Sunday. New Orleans, Louisiana, and Memphis, Tennessee, are both forecast to reach the high 90s, and Jackson, Mississippi, will be in the triple-digits.
"It has been a hot summer down South, and you might be saying, 'It's always hot in the South,' but this has been a tremendous stretch, very persistent," FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin said, adding the heat is now a health and safety hazard.
Come Sunday, millions of Americans will be dealing with triple-digit heat.
No relief in sight
The heat wave has turned deadly for dozens of people. The most recent fatality happened Tuesday in Houston, where a 3-month-old boy died after being left inside a vehicle.
Temperatures inside a car can rise by 20 degrees within minutes, and after 40 minutes, the temperature can rise by 40 degrees.
"Make sure you are setting that reminder, so you look and pay attention to what's going on," Merwin said. "Never leave the car before checking the back seat."
The National Weather Service issued Central Florida's first-ever Excessive Heat Watch and Warning on Wednesday and Thursday.
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In the Southwest, the heat is taking a toll on wildlife and plants native to hot temperatures. Saguaro cacti in Phoenix which are more than 150 years old, are falling from heat stress.
More records will continue to be broken this week during an already deadly heat wave.
Ten new record-high temperatures were recorded across Texas and Louisiana on Thursday.