It Only Gets Hotter
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 · 7:18 PM
Lyrics
Dangerous heat expected through the weekend with triple digit heat indices west of the Cumberland Plateau. Low to medium thunderstorm chances primarily east of Interstate sixty-five each afternoon and evening through Thursday. Stronger storms will be capable of damaging winds and heavy rain. Drier and even hotter conditions favored Friday through the weekend followed by some minor relief early next week. High pressure builds! Southeast ridge! Northwest flow! Push the edge! Moisture pools! Downdraft CAPE! Convective systems! No escape! East of Interstate sixty-five! Tracking south! Keep it alive! Heat index rising! One hundred ten! TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT RISK! TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT RISK! TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT RISK! TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT RISK! Thursday arrives! High moves north! Damaging winds! Spitting forth! Mid-ninety highs! Plateau burns! Weekend approaches! No return! Eighty percent at Nashville! Saturday! Sunday! Extreme risk! One hundred degrees! Lock it down! TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT RISK! TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT RISK! TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT RISK! TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT RISK! Extreme heat! Overnight mid-seventies! No relief! Until next week! One hundred degrees!
The forecast discussion
KEY MESSAGES
Updated at 709 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026
- Dangerous heat expected through the weekend with triple digit heat indices west of the Cumberland Plateau.
- Low to medium thunderstorm chances primarily east of I-65 each afternoon and evening through Thursday.
Stronger storms will be capable of damaging winds and heavy rain.
- Drier and even hotter conditions favored Friday through the weekend followed by some minor relief early next week.
SHORT TERM
(Rest of today through Thursday) Issued at 1117 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026
High pressure continues to build across the southeast US, but Middle TN remains in northwest flow.
Hot & humid conditions persist with high temperatures this afternoon expected to reach into the mid-90s west of the Plateau with heat indices in the triple digits.
With plenty of instability, DCAPE, and moisture available, the door is still open for another MCS to move through this afternoon or into the evening hours.
Radar trends this morning have been showing activity developing to the north and tracking southeast, and CAMs are still showing the potential for some storms to impact areas east of I-65. As with yesterday, any storms that do develop will have the potential for produce strong to damaging winds as well as heavy rain.
Any activity should diminish late this evening or overnight.
On Thursday, the high pressure builds a little more north which helps to lower thunderstorm chances.
They won't be completely zero, but low chances (15-30%) will persist still mainly east of I-65. Otherwise, under more influence of the high, temperatures will only warm further with highs reaching into the mid and upper-90s and heat indices of 105 to 110 degrees.
LONG TERM
(Thursday Night through next Wednesday) Issued at 1117 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026
The high builds more overhead Friday and into the weekend which should lend itself to a dry weekend.
But that does mean our hottest temperatures of this heat wave are anticipated for the weekend.
Many locations will be near the 100-degree mark Friday, and probabilities are high that several will get there Saturday and/or Sunday.
NBM probabilities west of the Plateau for at least 100 Saturday is 40- 70% (80% at Nashville) with Sunday probabilities up to 60-80% (90% at Nashville).
These temperatures, heat index values of 105-110+, and overnight temperatures in the mid to upper-70s will make for major to extreme heat risk for all.
Be sure to take care of yourself by limiting your time outdoors and staying hydrated.
Take care of others as well by checking in on those who are more vulnerable to heat.
These hot temperatures look to persist into Monday, but the heat wave will finally break come Tuesday as the high moves off the west and a front comes down from the south.
This pattern change will also increase rain and thunderstorm chances yet again early next week.