The early fall heat wave has moved into the record books. DeSoto County record heat peaked Tuesday as Memphis International Airport, the official weather station for the Memphis metro area, reached 93 degrees on Oct. 13. That broke a daily record that had stood since 1963, according to the National Weather Service in Memphis. A day earlier, the airport hit 92 degrees, which tied the Oct. 12 record set in 1975.
Highs are normally in the mid-70s at this time of year, so residents of Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, Hernando and the rest of DeSoto County spent the first part of the week about 15 to 17 degrees above normal.
DeSoto County Record Heat by the Numbers
The National Weather Service’s daily climate reports show how unusual the stretch has been:
Monday, Oct. 12: Memphis International Airport hit 92 degrees at 3:28 p.m., tying the 1975 record. The normal high is 77.
Tuesday, Oct. 13: The airport reached 93 degrees at 2:03 p.m., breaking the old record of 92 from 1963. The normal high is 76. The morning low was only 70 degrees.
Germantown weather office: The weather service’s own station, with records going back to 1988, set new daily records both days: 93 degrees on Monday (the old record was 88) and 92 on Tuesday (the old record was 87).
The Memphis airport record books go back to 1872, so a new mark there is a notable event. Rain has also been scarce. The airport has recorded 1.50 inches of rain since Sept. 1, more than 3 inches below normal, which adds to the dry conditions across north Mississippi.
More Heat Today and Thursday
The heat is not over yet. The weather service forecast for Southaven calls for a high near 90 on Wednesday, with a 30% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms. Heat index values in the mid to upper 90s are possible this afternoon wherever storms don’t cool things down. Forecasters expect most of the storms to stay north of Interstate 40.
Thursday should be sunny with another high near 90. Forecasters call it the region’s last summer-like day. The daily records for those dates are 90 degrees for Oct. 14 (set in 1963) and 93 degrees for Oct. 15 (set in 2015), so Wednesday’s record could be tied or broken if the clouds stay away.
If you’re working or playing outdoors, take the usual hot-weather precautions:
Drink water often, even before you feel thirsty.
Take breaks in the shade or air conditioning, especially during the afternoon.
Never leave children or pets in a parked vehicle.
Check on older neighbors and anyone without reliable air conditioning.
Strong Cold Front Ends the Heat Friday
Relief arrives at the end of the week. A strong cold front will move through DeSoto County early Friday. Forecasters say Friday’s high will be near 70, with temperatures falling into the mid-60s during the afternoon and northwest winds gusting to 30 mph. Friday night’s low should drop to around 48 degrees, and Saturday will be sunny and crisp with a high near 66 and a low near 45.
The front will arrive dry, and humidity could fall to around 35% on Friday afternoon. The weather service says that combination of gusty wind and dry air will raise wildfire danger. Residents should avoid outdoor burning Friday.
For the latest forecasts and any advisories, check the National Weather Service Memphis office at weather.gov/meg.
