The record heat last week was astonishing at both day and night. It was the felt from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa all the way to Michigan.
It was the longest streak of the 90s on record for several regions this early in the season (back to 1880s & 1890s).
It was also the first time temperatures exceeded 93 degrees Fahrenheit, heat indices above 100, and low temperatures did not fall below 70 degrees Fahrenheit for numerous days.
Another heat event this week
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
Another noteworthy heatwave will develop this week through the weekend, with temperatures in the 100s from North and South Carolina to Georgia, near 100s from Alabama to Mississippi, and temperatures reaching 114 in Texas.
Later today, the rain will be limited to a few scattered to isolated showers, with a few gaps in the clouds.
Temperatures in the 60s may rise to the 70s or low 70s in some areas later today (with south to southwest winds), as per WLFI.
Areas of fog and lows of 59-65 tonight will be followed by largely sunny skies and highs of 83-89 tomorrow. Heat indexes of 85-92 are forecast.
Winds will be 13-25 mph from the south-southwest.
After mild, humid lows of 68-72 tomorrow night, highs of 88-91 are forecast on Friday. Heat indices of 93-100 are possible, with south-southwest breezes of 20-40.
Severe thunderstorms may form in Illinois late this evening and may strike our northwestern to western regions tonight.
It looks like the storms will not go any further east than a Winamac to West Lafayette to Covington line and will instead track northeastward rather than east or southeastward.
The cold front will tend to stall in Illinois beneath fairly strong mid and upper flow, resulting in storm clusters and line segments along and ahead of the front.
The front is being held up by the power of this hot upper ridge, which is creating record heat.
Take note of the terrific heat Friday throughout the central, eastern, and southern United States. Many records will be broken, particularly in the Southeast and over Texas.
On Saturday, the front will stall near the state line, and temperatures will rise to the upper 80s and dew points will rise to 70-75.
The prediction called for strong to severe storms in Middle Tennessee this afternoon and tonight.
According to the National Weather Service Nashville, the potential for severe storms is mostly along and north of Interstate 40, particularly around the Tennessee-Kentucky border.
The greatest threats are severe wind and huge hail, but a tornado is not out of the question.
The NWS has declared a modest danger of severe weather (category 2 of 5) for Clarksville, Portland, and the northern border of the area. The rest of Clarksville, as well as Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Columbia, are at low risk of severe weather (level 1 out of 5), as per Tennessean.
Strong to severe scattered storms are also likely Thursday and Saturday in the vicinity of a cold front, according to the NWS.
As usual, having various means to get weather notifications, such as mobile phone push alerts from local media and weather applications, social media updates, local news coverage, and NOAA weather radios, is critical.
The NWS suggested keeping an emergency kit nearby in case of an emergency.
Food, water, flashlights, batteries, medication, spare clothing and shoes, hygiene, and even solar-powered chargers for electronic gadgets should be included.
