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.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not 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.
