Metro Atlanta is under a heat advisory for a second straight day as the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City extended the warning through 8 p.m. Tuesday.
The advisory covers an area of Georgia stretching from Dalton and Rome in the north down through Athens, Atlanta, Newnan, Columbus, Macon and Dublin. Forecasters are calling for highs of 94 to 97 degrees and heat index values of at least 100 degrees each afternoon through the July 4th holiday weekend.
“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses,” the NWS said in its morning briefing. Officials urged residents to stay hydrated, stay in air-conditioned rooms when possible, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors.
If going outside, the weather service recommends lightweight and loose-fitting clothing, limiting strenuous activities to early morning or evening, and watching for symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
The City of Atlanta has opened cooling centers across all 12 neighborhoods for residents who need relief. A full list of locations is available on the city’s NotifyATL page. MARTA is offering free rides to and from any designated cooling center through the end of the advisory.
Looking ahead, the July 4th weekend outlook calls for highs in the mid to upper 90s with only spotty pop-up storms possible, which will offer limited relief during outdoor fireworks celebrations and other Independence Day activities.
Fireworks show organizers at Centennial Olympic Park and Lenox Square both said they will have additional misting stations and free water available on-site this weekend, and the city said it will deploy extra emergency medical personnel to both venues.
