Mississippi weather: Heat wave will bring extreme temps into next week. What to know

Summer is here, and the heat index is already at dangerous levels for parts of Mississippi. It's only going to get hotter.
Kids are out of school, the days are long, and it's a great time to get outdoors and have fun in the sun. But you need a plan to avoid heat stroke, heat exhaustion or other health problems, like sunburn.
AccuWeather is calling for a warmer-than-average summer in the Magnolia State. Be prepared to beat the heat, stay cool.
Understand what the heat index means for your community before working in the yard, exercising or letting the kids play outside.
Worried about the summer energy bill? There's a specific temperature you can set the air conditioner on to stay cooler while saving money.
Mississippi is already seeing heat advisory warnings. There's an elevated risk in the coming days.
According to the Jackson National Weather Service office, temps will be in the mid-90s this weekend and through next week. Heat index values will range from 105°F-110°F.
Many counties to the south and east were under a heat advisory on Friday. But the scorching summer is likely to affect the whole state in the coming days.
Peak heat index values on Saturday and Sunday will be in the hours surrounding 4 p.m., according to the Memphis NWS.
A NWS maximum heat index projection for Tuesday, June 24, shows peak feels-like temperatures will range from 100°F-110°F across the Magnolia State.
It's what the temperature actually feels like when considering humidity and temperature, according to the National Weather Service.
For example, a 90-degree temp, paired with 70% humidity, can feel like 105°F. At 100% humidity, that same 90 degrees can feel like 132°F, putting people in extreme danger.
And that's in the shade. If you're in the sun, you can add up to 15°F to those calculations.
When the heat index is 80-90°F, the NWS says there can be more fatigue than usual. Use caution.
If it's 90°F-103°F, use extreme caution. You're more likely to get heat stroke, cramps or exhaustion if you're outside too long or doing a lot of physical activity, like exercise or yard work.
At 103°F-124°F, it's considered the danger zone. Heat cramps or exhaustion are likely, and heat stroke chances increase, depending on how long you're exposed and activity levels.
Above 125°F, people are in extreme danger of suffering a heat stroke.
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The temperature reached 115°F, the state's all-time high, in Holly Springs, on July 29, 1930.
Statewide, temperatures average about 89 degrees in June and 92 for July and August each year, according to usclimatedata.com.
According to Current Results, humidity can vary from approximately 52% to around 94% from June through August, with higher humidity in the mornings and lower rates in the afternoons. That averages out to the mid- to high-70% range throughout the day.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has several safety recommendations.
Stay hydrated. Drink even if you don't feel thirsty yet.
Avoid stressful physical activities during the hottest part of the day. Plan what you need to do based on time of day.
Never leave kids or pets in a vehicle unattended.
Wear light, loose, lightweight clothes.
Wear sunscreen.
Check on friends and neighbors and have someone who can check on you.
Take breaks in the AC or shade often.
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Mississippi Power suggests setting your thermostat to 78 degrees in summer. Each degree lower than that could lead to a 3% to 5% increase in energy use. They also suggest adjusting the temperature up or down by one or two degrees at a time to avoid higher bills.
The World Health Organization recommends a range between 64 and 75 degrees for healthy people. That can be adjusted as needed for children, the elderly and people with other health concerns.
Don't rely on just fans. According to the CDC, fans work to cool when the temperature is lower than 90°F. But if the air is warmer, it can actually increase your body temperature.
Factors like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration and sunburn can affect anyone.
Older adults sometimes don't adjust as well to high temperatures because of health complications. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that sometimes medication also makes people more likely to get dehydrated or have a bad reaction to too much sun.
People with diabetes and some other health complications can also feel the heat more than the average person. According to the CDC, damage to blood vessels and nerves can keep sweat glands from effectively cooling the body. That makes heat exhaustion or heat stroke more likely. Hot weather can also affect how bodies use insulin.
Other groups that get hit the hardest include:
Babies and young kids.
Pregnant women.
People with asthma and some other respiratory conditions.
People with heart disease.
Those who have chronic health conditions.
Anyone working outside or exercising outdoors.
Meteorologists say June 1 is the first day of summer.
The first day of the astronomical season was Friday, June 20, 2025, and the solstice was at 9:42 p.m. CT.
Ready to skip the heat and curl up with a blanket and a pumpkin spice latte?
According to the Farmer's Almanac, fall will start on Sept. 22 with the autumnal equinox.
According to usclimatedata.com, we won't get a big break from the warmer temperatures until around October, when the daily high finally drops to around 77°F and the lows are around 53°F.
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Dangerous heat advisory: MS weather could feel like 110. Stay safe, cool

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