East Mississippi bakes in sweltering heat wave

Published 5:45 pm Wednesday, May 29, 2019

It’s hot in East Mississippi, and it’s not going to get any cooler just yet.  

Temperatures are usually in the 90s this time of the year, but a sweltering heat wave in the middle of May is unusual, said Eric Carpenter, a meteorologist with the National weather service in Jackson.  

“It is usually a more late summer phenomenon is when we get these big heat waves,” Carpenter said. “It’s not that common to a get a heat wave in May.”  

Carpenter said June and July are the typical times for a heat wave. Hotter weather, with above average temperatures, is expected in June, July and August. If the heat does become worst the NWS will issue a heat advisory, he said. 

“We encourage people to keep an eye on the forecast,” Carpenter said.

Last year around this time, temperatures were higher, Carpenter said. On May 13, 2018, it was 94 degrees and on May 14 and May 15, it was 96 degrees, with it cooling down before closing out the mouth in the upper 90s. 

This year, Carpenter said the heat is more consistent, with the heat wave starting as early as May 16. Temperatures have been above 90 for most of the month, except for May 19, when the high was in the 70s.

“The average high in July is in the mid-90s,” Carpenter said.

Looking ahead, the Meridian area can expect temperatures to be in the lower and upper 90s over the next week, Carpenter said. Rain isn’t expected until next Thursday, when a slight shower is possible.

Carpenter said some people are more vulnerable to the heat, like those who work outside and the elderly. For those working outside, it’s best to drink lots of water and take breaks during the day.

Higher humidity

Meridian resident Phillip Wilson took a break from the heat on Wednesday, stopping by  Southern Sportsmen on Front Street in Meridian. The Mississippi native said he feels like  summers are getting longer.

“We are having less and less of a winter,” Wilson said. 

Tony Creel, owner of Southern Sportsman, said he is used to the heat but feels like it has gotten more humid. Creel said he expects high temperatures in the summer, because  Mississippi is known for being hot. But it feels more humid this year, Creel said. 

“The humidity has gone up,” Creel said.

Tips to save energy

Julie Boles, director of marketing and communications with East Mississippi Electric Power Association, said higher power bills are common in the summer. Boles encouraged  customers to use an energy audit link called mySavings on the EMEPA website, which walks customers through the process of saving energy.

According to Mississippi Power, ways to save energy during the summer include keeping your air conditioner on auto and at 78 degrees, using ceiling fans and closing blinds to keep the sun out.