Father’s Day weekend began with warm temperatures across the country on Saturday, but forecasters predict temperatures will get worse.
Heat has already arrived in the Southwest, Gulf Coast, Southeast and Midwest, with federal forecasters predicting temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit on Father’s Day in parts of California, Texas, Tennessee, Kansas and South Carolina.
Next up is scorching heat in the Northeast, where more than 135 million people from Chicago to New York should brace for high temperatures next week, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.
By then, much of the country will be experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures, according to a projection from the federal Weather and Climate Prediction Center. Forecasters expect parts of every state to experience above-normal temperatures between June 20 and 24, with the most unusual warmth concentrated in the Northeast.
Officials are warning people to watch for signs of heatstroke ahead of the summer solstice on June 20. Andy Ciuppi, senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Memphis office, said that from a meteorologist’s perspective, summer has already begun.
In Memphis, on the Mississippi River, temperatures are expected to reach 95 degrees on Saturday, 5 degrees above normal for this time of year. As humidity slowly rises, the heat index will exceed 100 degrees. Father’s Day will be even hotter, with a heat advisory possible if the heat index exceeds 105 degrees, Ciuppi added.
“We know it’s going to be the first hot weekend of 2024 for us,” Ciuppi told USA Today. “We’re sending out all the safety information. Stay hydrated. Even if you’re not going outside, make sure you have plenty of fluids and drinks.”
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Tennessee health officials have warned residents to be careful when out in the sun, and people should avoid being outdoors during the hottest times of the day, the state health department said in a statement, and Ciuppi added that children and pets should not be left in cars.
“This, combined with cooler overnight temperatures, can put anyone at risk for extreme heat without effective cooling or adequate hydration,” the NWS national forecast said Saturday. “Please remain weather aware and take appropriate heat protection measures!”
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New York City officials said temperatures this weekend will be relatively cool, in the 70s, ahead of next week’s heatwave. Now is the time to install air conditioners or find the nearest cooling center, according to a social media post from the city’s Office of Emergency Management.
“Now’s the perfect time to start planning for next week’s extreme heat which may continue into next weekend!” the post read.
