Heat building in the Southeast for the weekend

26 Feb 2021, 9:35 am

A large ridge of high pressure is building in the Gulf of Mexico and will stay put for several days. This will lead to near record temperatures for parts of the south and southeast Saturday and Monday. Warm temperatures will continue into next week as well.

Even in places where record highs aren’t expected to come close to being broken, temperatures will be well above average and feeling much more like late spring than late February.

In addition to bringing warmer temperatures to the south and southeast, air coming out of the Gulf of Mexico will increase humidity levels. The humidity won’t help spark many showers, but will add to heat index temperatures running higher than actual temperatures.

Record highs will be possible for many locations but record warm low temperatures will be in jeopardy of being broken too. Temperatures will be 10-20° above average for this time of year for both mornings and afternoons.

It takes a lot of energy to heat and cool humid air. When excess humidity is present in the air, it’s unable to cool down as much overnight as dry air. That’s why morning temperatures are going to be so warm for so many spots the next few days.

Record high temperatures are possible in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama on Sunday. Most of these records are in the middle to upper 80s!

While Sunday is the most likely day for any potential record highs, the warm air will stay in place through much of next week as the ridge meanders around the Gulf of Mexico. That will also contribute to dry conditions across the Gulf Coast due to sinking air around the high pressure. Heavy rain will persist farther north, where cold fronts will be blocked by the strength of the ridge.

Tampa will be around 10° above average all week with highs expected to stay in the low to middle 80s. It will be muggy in the mornings and afternoons. Get ready to need the air conditioning!

Tampa is one of many sites in Florida where Major League Baseball teams are doing spring training. Athletes and fans who will be attending the training games will need to be prepared for very warm temperatures throughout all of Florida into next week.

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About the author

Kara James

Kara has always been passionate about weather and knew from an early age that she wanted to become a meteorologist. Living in different regions of the country and experiencing weather events ranging from ice storms to tornadoes drove her to pursue a bachelor's degree in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. Throughout college, storm chasing became a regular event for Kara, where she saw fir... Load Morest-hand the power of the atmosphere. Kara graduated cum laude from OU and decided to further her meteorology education with a Master's degree from Mississippi State University. The deadly April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak struck while Kara was studying at MSU; her first “Dixie Alley” tornado event and an up close glimpse into the destruction of the storms she so closely studied. Her broadcast career began in Elvis’ birthplace, Tupelo, Mississippi, where she earned her Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society. Kara's career has included coverage of all types of severe weather including tornado events, flooding and tropical systems across multiple southern states. Recently she helped cover the 2020 Easter Sunday deadly tornado outbreak in southeast Mississippi. In her free time, you can find Kara outdoors exploring new areas with her mini poodle,Truffles. Kara is also an avid runner and frequently races in 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons. Say hi to Kara on Twitter and Facebook!