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The heat isn’t going away, but forecasters have said that temperatures should return to summertime normals for much of the United States this weekend — at least for a few days.
The slight respite is expected to arrive Sunday for much of the Gulf Coast and Southeast, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service.
Until then, they warn that the Southwest will see more record-breaking heat and that indexes — which take into account both temperature and humidity — will remain dangerous across the southern United States.
A Chart That Conveys the Forecast: Spot the trend.
Heat indexes are expected to drop somewhat in New Orleans on Sunday, and the forecast high temperature (without considering humidity) for that day was 90 degrees — several degrees cooler than recent days have been.
Look up the heat index in your city or town and see how it compares.
Will it return?
Probably. Forecasters said that much of the rest of the U.S. would be likely to experience hot, summertime conditions by the middle of next week and that the Midwest could see its hottest temperatures so far this year.
Then, the Southern swelter is set to return.
“By late next week, excessive heat and humidity will rebuild in the Southern Plains and Deep South,” forecasters said on Friday.