Sticky shirts and surprise storms are back on the menu today, folks. Most of Georgia will bake under heat indices soaring past 100 degrees, while isolated thunderstorms could pack gusty winds and drenching downpours this afternoon.
🌡️ What We Know: The National Weather Service in Peachtree City issued a hazardous weather alert at 5:53 this morning. Heat index values will hit between 100 and 104 degrees across much of the region today. A few pop-up thunderstorms may develop this afternoon, bringing heavy rain, lightning, and strong wind gusts.
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.”
⚠️ Why It Matters: Prolonged exposure to heat indices above 100 degrees risks heat exhaustion or stroke. Meanwhile, those storms could quickly flood roads or knock down tree limbs. And don’t expect relief soon: this pattern sticks around.
👀 Why This Should Catch Your Attention: You’ll feel this the moment you step outside. Outdoor plans? Exercise? Commutes? All impacted. And if you’re thinking, “It’s just summer,” remember: repeated days of extreme heat strain power grids, farms, and your body’s coping mechanisms.
🚨 Take Action: Drink water before you’re thirsty. Reschedule strenuous outdoor work for early morning. Never leave kids or pets in parked cars. If thunder roars, get indoors immediately. Check on neighbors without air conditioning.
⏭️ What’s Next: Friday through Monday will crank up the chaos. Scattered to widespread thunderstorms will roll across Georgia, dumping enough rain to cause localized flooding. Heat indices could climb to 105 degrees or higher each day.
💛 Remember The Golden Rule: Heat waves hit vulnerable neighbors hardest. Offer water to delivery workers, check on seniors, and know your county’s cooling center locations. A little kindness cools more than tempers.
How to Read and Understand The News
When reading news, remember:
- Truth doesn’t change because we dislike it
- Facts remain facts even when they make us uncomfortable
- Events happen whether we accept them or not
- Good reporting often challenges us
- The news isn’t choosing a position — it is relaying what official, verified sources have said.
- Blaming the press for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Before dismissing news that bothers you, ask:
- What evidence supports this story?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I “shooting the messenger” because I don’t like what is happening?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not just comfort.
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.
