10 Cities Where Heat Risk Will Be Highest This Weekend

By Evan Comen • July 18, 2025

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While the Gulf Coast deals with a tropical rainstorm, a heat wave is set to blanket much of the Southeast this weekend. As humidity levels climb, temperatures will reach the upper 90s, elevating heat risk throughout a corridor stretching from Georgia to Virginia.

Hold on to your hats! The U.S. Counties Getting Windier Every Year

The National Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings in 85 counties, representing approximately 3 million Americans. As the weekend progresses, the number of counties with major to extreme heat risk – a level of danger associated with increased visits to the ER and health complications for all populations – will more than double from 74 on Friday to 179 on Sunday. A closer look at the data reveals the cities where heat risk will be highest this weekend.

To determine the cities with the highest heat risk this weekend, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on heat risk from the NOAA’s National Weather Service. Cities were ranked based on average NWS HeatRisk score for the period July 11 to 13, 2025. Supplemental data on forecast temperature maximums are from the NOAA’s National Digital Forecast Database. Only cities with at least 200,000 residents were considered. Population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.

10. Nashville, TN

Photo by Austin Wills on Unsplash

NWS HeatRisk score, July 18, 2025: 2.5/4 (high of 94.1°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 19, 2025: 2.4/4 (high of 91.7°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 20, 2025: 2.9/4 (high of 92.8°F)
Total population: 684,103

9. Jacksonville, FL

Photo by Trevor Neely on Unsplash

NWS HeatRisk score, July 18, 2025: 2.5/4 (high of 92.5°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 19, 2025: 2.7/4 (high of 93.8°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 20, 2025: 3.1/4 (high of 95.7°F)
Total population: 950,203

8. Chesapeake, VA

Photo by Matt Hardison on Unsplash

NWS HeatRisk score, July 18, 2025: 2.5/4 (high of 94.1°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 19, 2025: 2.1/4 (high of 94.9°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 20, 2025: 2.4/4 (high of 90.3°F)
Total population: 249,377

7. Winston-Salem, NC

Photo by Ian McIlwraith on Unsplash

NWS HeatRisk score, July 18, 2025: 2.8/4 (high of 91.4°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 19, 2025: 2.2/4 (high of 93.6°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 20, 2025: 2.3/4 (high of 92.5°F)
Total population: 249,571

6. Augusta, GA

Photo by Sami Laughlin on Pexels

NWS HeatRisk score, July 18, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 94.7°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 19, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 97.6°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 20, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 99.0°F)
Total population: 201,615

5. Fayetteville, NC

Photo by Alexander Jawfox on Unsplash

NWS HeatRisk score, July 18, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 94.8°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 19, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 98.0°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 20, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 98.3°F)
Total population: 208,697

4. Durham, NC

Photo by Colin Rowley on Unsplash

NWS HeatRisk score, July 18, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 93.7°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 19, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 96.0°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 20, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 94.5°F)
Total population: 284,094

3. Charlotte, NC

Photo by Leiada Krözjhen on Unsplash

NWS HeatRisk score, July 18, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 93.8°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 19, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 96.3°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 20, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 96.2°F)
Total population: 875,045

2. Raleigh, NC

Photo by Higgins Spooner on Unsplash

NWS HeatRisk score, July 18, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 93.8°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 19, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 96.6°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 20, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 95.6°F)
Total population: 465,517

1. Atlanta, GA

Photo by Brad Huchteman on Unsplash

NWS HeatRisk score, July 18, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 94.2°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 19, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 94.3°F)
NWS HeatRisk score, July 20, 2025: 3.0/4 (high of 94.9°F)
Total population: 494,838

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