Athens area will remain hot and dry as temperatures will again hit upper 90s, low 100s

Wayne Ford, Athens Banner-Herald
·2 min read

Hot temperatures and dry conditions will dominate in the Athens area through next week and possibly beyond, according to the National Weather Service.

While spotty showers and thunderstorms hit the region the past week, it “might be the last time we’ll see some for quite some time,” NWS meteorologist Vaughn Smith said.

“We do get a reprieve from the hot weather this weekend, but when I say reprieve, I mean instead of temperatures in the 90s and 100s, we’re looking at temperatures in the 80s and near 90,” he said.

Then next week, the temperatures will again hit the upper 90s and lower 100s across the state, according to Smith.

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Temperatures are hot, but work continues under clear skies on Friday along Clayton Street in downtown Athens.
Temperatures are hot, but work continues under clear skies on Friday along Clayton Street in downtown Athens.

The weather pattern does appear to continue the hot, dry conditions past next weekend, but the NWS projects only seven days out, according to Smith.

Some weather projections note the possibility of some showers on June 25, but Smith said if “a high pressure sits on us and doesn’t allow that moisture to move back into the area, we could still stay dry.”

The weather service HTL Weather has projected temperatures in Athens reaching 106 and 108 next Wednesday and Thursday.

With the three-day AthFest beginning next weekend in downtown Athens — normally drawing large crowds to the outdoor music venues — officials are encouraging people to come prepared for the heat.

"We're encouraging attendees to bring an umbrella to give themselves some shade from the sun while they're downtown enjoying all the free music, great vendors, beautiful art and fun for kids," AthFest Executive Director Jill Helme said Friday.

Also, Business Water Solutions will have stations set up to refill water bottles, which people should bring, she said. Tents will have fans and attendees are encouraged to leave their pets at home.

With the high heat comes higher electric bills for many. Walton EMC has offered some suggestions to help lower costs:

  • Set the thermostat higher, to say 78 degrees, and use fans to create a wind-chill effect.

  • Use LED lights. They emit much less heat. Turn off lights not being used.

  • Grill or eat out rather than using the stove and oven.

  • Put off using heat-producing appliances until late at night.

  • Close blinds and curtains during the day to keep out the sun’s rays.

  • Make sure air-conditioning vents are unobstructed and change the filter if it’s dirty.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens weather: More hot, dry conditions in forecast through next week