No Relief
Thursday, August 13, 2026 · 7:31 PM
Lyrics
Key Messages updated at seven twenty-eight P.M. Central Daylight Time, Thursday, August thirteenth, twenty twenty-six. Dangerous heat expected through the weekend with triple digit heat indices west of the Cumberland Plateau. Lower thunderstorm chances today, but any stronger storms will be capable of damaging winds and heavy rain. Drier and hotter conditions favored Friday through the weekend followed by some minor relief early next week. An upper level ridge remains in place across the southeastern sky. It does not plan on relenting. It holds the earth in a vice and drives the atmosphere to rot. GULF MOISTURE POURING INTO MIDDLE TENNESSEE! HEAT INDICES CLIMBING ONE HUNDRED FIVE TO ONE HUNDRED TEN! OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE SEVENTIES OFFER NO RECOVERY! WE ARE CREEPING INTO EXTREME HEAT RISK! Clouds invade from the north like a dying shield that crumbles under the sun. We take whatever break we can get before the atmosphere bakes us alive. If a storm manages to break through the ridge, it brings only gusty destruction and heavy rain. There is no salvation in a twenty percent chance. The Cumberland Plateau will burn along with the rest of us. It does not plan on relenting! One hundred five to one hundred ten! It does not plan on relenting! We burn again and again! Highland Rim pushing to one hundred degrees under a vault of burning bronze. A low pressure system in Canada exerts pressure from the north. We are squeezed right in the middle of two unrelenting forces. Passing shortwaves offer a momentary delusion of twenty to thirty percent, but August will not let us go. YOU WILL REALIZE TOO LATE THAT YOU NEED TO COOL DOWN! THE RIDGE IS AN EVERLASTING GRAVE! ONE HUNDRED DEGREES ON THE HIGHLAND RIM! NO RELIEF IN AUGUST! NO RELIEF!
The forecast discussion
KEY MESSAGES
Updated at 728 PM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026
- Dangerous heat expected through the weekend with triple digit heat indices west of the Cumberland Plateau.
- Lower thunderstorm chances today, but any stronger storms will be capable of damaging winds and heavy rain.
- Drier and hotter conditions favored Friday through the weekend followed by some minor relief early next week.
SHORT TERM
(Rest of today through Friday) Issued at 1101 AM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026
Clouds are invading the area from the north this morning, with heat indices already in the 90s and some in the low 100s though, we'll take any kind of break we can get.
An upper ridge remains in place across the southeastern United States that does not plan on relenting any time soon.
This drives up not only our temperatures, but keeps the atmosphere moist with flow from the Gulf into Middle Tennessee.
Temperatures will only get hotter into the weekend, and so will heat indices.
Today, expect highs in the mid 90s with heat indices ranging from 105 - 110. Don't expect much relief from it as our chances for rain are low (20-30%).
That being said, if a storm does manage to break through despite the ridge, it would be capable of producing gusty winds and heavy rainfall.
To end the work week, it's the same story but with even smaller chances for rain (<20%).
Overnight lows in the 70s won't provide much relief from the heat, and highs on Friday will be in the mid to upper 90s (with the exception of the Cumberland Plateau, they'll get into the low 90s).
Heat Indices will reach 105 - 110 once again.
With the high overnight lows, and minimal relief expected, much of the area creeps into Extreme Heat risk starting Friday and continuing through the weekend.
If you plan on being outside, remember to practice heat safety, and know the signs of heat illness.
Take breaks before you think you need them, as sometimes you can realize you need to cool down too late.
LONG TERM
(Friday Night through next Thursday) Issued at 1101 AM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026
The ridge continues its hold on the southeastern United States into the weekend, where temperatures somehow manage to get even hotter.
Highs on the weekend have a real chance of reaching 100 degrees in some areas on the Highland Rim.
With the heat advisory in effect for the area, and the extreme heat risk, precautions need to be made for outdoor activities.
Make sure you are staying hydrated and taking frequent breaks in the shade or A/C if you still plan to be outside this weekend.
Once we start a new work week, A low pressure system in Canada will begin to exert pressure on our ridge, and we are squeezed right in the middle.
As the low dips further south, some passing shortwaves will bring rain chances starting Monday night.
While chances are low (20 - 30%), a weak cold front will shift our winds to be from the north and lower highs on Tuesday to the low 90s.
Unfortunately, it is August, so we will bounce right back to the mid 90s into the middle of the week.