If you step outside in The Peach State this weekend, it’s going to feel more like stepping into and oven than the great outdoors. The heat index—the “feels like” temperature—will push past 100 degrees most afternoons through the weekend and into early next week across north and central parts of the state.
🔥 What We Know: Cities like Atlanta, Athens, Columbus, Macon, and Rome will see heat indices climbing well into the triple digits. Athens and Macon are flirting with highs over 107 degrees by Monday. Even Rome, usually a bit cooler, will hit the three digit mark by Sunday. The National Weather Service expects Heat Advisories to roll out for much of north and central Georgia as the days get hotter.
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.”
💧 Heat Safety: If you plan to be outside, drink plenty of water and take breaks in the shade. Keep an eye on kids, older adults, and pets—they feel the heat more than you do. Try to schedule any tough outdoor work for early morning or late evening when it’s a bit cooler.
⚠️ Why This Matters: Heat like this isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s dangerous. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can sneak up on you, especially if you’re not prepared. This kind of heat can also strain power grids and make outdoor plans miserable.
Stay cool, stay hydrated, and check on your neighbors if you can. This heat wave isn’t going anywhere fast.
The Sources: National Weather Service
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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.
