Austin, Texas, is currently hotter than Death Valley, California, which is frequently referred to as the hottest place on Earth and driest place in North America.

Why It Matters

The forecast for south central Texas comes as surging temperatures in the Lonestar State have prompted National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists to issue an extreme heat warning for the region from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Central time on Wednesday. A wider swath of Texas is under a heat advisory.

What to Know

Heat index values anticipate it will feel as hot as 112 degrees across parts of south central Texas on Wednesday, NWS meteorologists warned. High humidity can make the temperature feel hotter than it really is.

The forecast was hot enough to prompt an extreme heat warning.

“Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events,” the warning said. “Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.”

Death Valley Weather

The current temperature at Furnace Creek, a community within Death Valley National Park, is 77 degrees Fahrenheit as of noon Eastern time on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the current temperature in Austin, Texas, is 83 degrees.

Austin is expected to stay warmer than Furnace Creek all day, with a high temperature of 99 degrees compared to Furnace Creek’s forecast of 89 degrees.

When Will Texas Heat Wave End?

The extreme heat warning will expire at 9 p.m. local time Wednesday night. NWS meteorologist Eric Platt, who works at the Austin office, told Newsweek that the heat is expected to persist throughout the immediate forecast.

Average high temperatures are around 86 degrees for this time of year, but the forecast anticipates highs to be as much as 15 degrees above that through at least next Tuesday, Platt said.

What People Are Saying

Platt told Newsweek: “South central Texas can certainly get hot, but this is the kind of heat we normally would see in July or August. August is typically our hottest month. This is an early season heat wave. We just want folks to prepare for it.”

NWS Austin posted on X, formerly Twitter: “An Extreme Heat Warning is now in effect for all but the Coastal Plains on Wednesday. Historic heat for the month of May is expected, with all time monthly May high temperatures likely being broken in San Antonio and Austin on Wednesday.”

The extreme heat warning said: “Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.”

What Happens Next

There is a high chance for temperatures to be above average for much of the South for the foreseeable future, from Texas northeast through Virginia, according to the six- to 10-day temperature outlook from the NWS Climate Prediction Center. California is also expecting above-average temperatures during this time period.