If you were hoping this week’s high temperatures would ease off a little, we’ve got some bad news. Forecasters are warning that next week could be the most oppressive heat of 2025 so far.
🔥 Why It Matters: The extreme temperatures pose serious health risks to all Georgians, especially vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and outdoor workers. Heat-related illnesses can develop rapidly when temperatures climb above 100°F.
🌡️ The Forecast: The National Weather Service Atlanta is predicting a dangerous escalation of heat again today and intensifying even more through Tuesday:
- Atlanta will see temperatures climb from 98°F Friday to a scorching 109°F by Tuesday
- Macon could reach 112°F by Tuesday, making it one of the hottest spots in the state
- Athens and Columbus are both forecast to hit 111°F
What is the Heat Index?: The heat index refers to what the temperature feels like when the air temperature is combined with relative humidity. The thermometer in your car may report 90 degree temperatures, but the humidity means that to your body, it will feel like it is over 100 degrees. The heat index is sometimes called the “apparent temperature.”
⚠️ Health Risks: This combination of extreme heat and humidity creates potentially life-threatening conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke become significantly more likely as temperatures climb above 100°F.
🚰 Safety Precautions: Health officials recommend:
- Drinking plenty of water throughout the day
- Limiting outdoor activities to morning and evening hours
- Taking frequent breaks in air-conditioned spaces
- Never leaving children or pets in vehicles, even briefly
- Checking on elderly neighbors and relatives
🏠 Cooling Resources: Many Georgia counties will open cooling centers for those without access to air conditioning. Residents should check with local emergency management agencies for locations and hours.
The Sources: National Weather Service Atlanta, Georgia Department of Public Health.
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Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
