Atlanta temps soar again ahead of Wednesday afternoon storms

Before the storms arrive, heat indexes could reach up to 105 degrees around Atlanta and higher in areas southeast of the city, the NWS cautions.

In Macon, where the heat index could reach 110 degrees, city officials are not opening any special public venues as cooling centers, but they are encouraging locals without air conditioning to make use of already open facilities such as libraries, recreation centers, pools and splash pads.

To cope with the Middle Georgia swelter, Loy Young wore a straw hat at his fruit stand and stood beneath the shelter of tents that also shielded his melons, tomatoes and peaches.

“I definitely feel the heat,” he said. “This tent don’t do nothing but draw the heat to me, it seems like. I’m cooking up under here. It’s summertime. I deal with it.”

Tuesday’s high reached 97 degrees in Atlanta, just two points from the date’s 99-degree record. And the heat index hovered around the triple-digit mark for much of the area. Overnight, there wasn’t much relief from the heat as temperatures dropped only into the mid to upper 70s.

With such dangerous heat this afternoon, staying hydrated is crucial. If you’re spending any time outdoors, take frequent breaks to cool off and avoid heat-related illness, NWS meteorologists advise.

These broiling conditions are part of a larger, near-historic heat wave that has been roasting the eastern half of the country. It’s caused by a dome of high pressure that is trapping hot air from the Southwest, The Associated Press reported.

These types of “heat domes” prevent rain and clouds that could bring relief, but its ridge is expected to weaken this afternoon, the Weather Service predicts. That will allow waves of storms to roll in.

“The heat and humidity will produce abundant energy for (isolated) thunderstorms this afternoon,” NWS meteorologists caution. “Pinpointing storm locations … is challenging, though there may be a slight preference towards storms in central Georgia or over the elevated terrain of the North Georgia mountains.”

The first round of storms is expected to “pop up like mushrooms after a rainstorm” any time between 1-6 p.m., the NWS projects. Gusts of 40 to 60 mph are possible, with even some isolated bursts of 70 mph. There is also potential for quarter-sized hail in some locations.

A more organized and widespread system is anticipated to roll into metro Atlanta from South Carolina closer to nightfall, NWS forecasters warn. This round will bring the highest threat for damaging 50 to 70 mph winds and hail, driven in part by sea breeze blowing in from the Atlantic.

The storm threat may linger through the overnight hours and into Thursday morning. Another round of thunderstorms could develop Thursday afternoon — a few of which could be strong.