Sweltering weather predicted throughout week

High temperatures neared 100 degrees across the state Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Humidity is making August heat even more oppressive, with the heat index ‘ a combination of temperature and humidity calculating how hot it ‘feels’ to humans ‘ topping 105.

Unrelenting heat is driving record electricity demand in the seven states served by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

TVA, the nation’s largest public utility serving 8.7 million consumers, set an all-time peak record Monday, with consumers using 32,095 megawatts. The previous record, set July 18, 2006, was 32,008 megawatts, spokesman Gil Francis said on Tuesday.

The agency anticipated selling even more power on Tuesday, maybe more than 32,600 megawatts.

‘Wednesday will be hotter than today. Thursday will be hotter than Wednesday. And Friday will be hotter than Thursday,’ Francis said yesterday. ‘So it looks like we could have five straight days of record peak power demand because of the hot temperatures.’

Francis said the utility has met demand without any brownouts or cutbacks.

Drought conditions have added to the heat discomfort, with most of the state running about 15 inches below normal rainfall levels.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the western two-thirds of the state that includes Memphis and Nashville, effective through Thursday.

‘There’s really no relief in sight,’ said Memphis-based National Weather Service meteorologist Marlene Mickelson. ‘There’s a possibility it will be a little less humid on the weekend. I’d say try to stay in the shade and have plenty of ice water.’

High temperatures held around 100 degrees throughout most of the state Tuesday afternoon, close but not quite hitting historical records set in the 1930s, according to weather service data.

The eastern section of the state stayed only somewhat cooler, with temperatures in Knoxville capping at about 93.

Temperatures in the Nashville suburb of Smyrna reached 105 degrees by 3 p.m.

The National Weather Service has predicted similarly high temperatures across the state today, with highs continuing to hover around 100 and the heat index even higher. It will feel nearly 110 degrees in Memphis today, according to predictions.

The weather service recommends drinking fluids often, wearing light-colored clothing and staying in the shade.