NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A First Alert Weather Day remains in effect through Sunday.

FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY – THROUGH SUNDAY

The Extreme Heat Warning is still in effect for most of Middle Tennessee, all of southern Kentucky, and all of West Tennessee until 8 p.m. Friday because the dangerous levels of heat and humidity continue.

A Heat Advisory is in effect for the Cumberland Plateau until Friday at 8 p.m.

High temperatures today will be in the mid to upper 90s, with a heat index between 105°-110° across most of the area. High elevations in the Plateau could keep that heat index around 100°.

Keep an eye on the sky for a pop-up shower or thunderstorm during the heat of the day. Not everyone will see rain, but any storm could produce heavy rain and perhaps a brief strong wind gust as well.

Dangerous heat and humidity will continue Friday and this weekend. High temperatures will be closer to the mid 90s with a heat index still over 100° each afternoon.

Spotty showers and thunderstorms will develop during the afternoon and evening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The main focus around storms will continue to be bursts of heavy rainfall, but there’s a slight risk we’ll have sudden strong gusts of wind with any of the storms.

Remain weather aware. If a storm comes your way and you’re outdoors, get inside quickly. Remember – when thunder roars, go indoors.

NEXT WEEK

The worst of the heat and humidity will back off Monday-Wednesday, but temperatures will still stay in the low to mid 90s with a heat index in the upper 90s to near 100.

More chances for daytime heating showers and storms through the first half of next week.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The U.S. is seeing an increase in cases of a parasite that can cause “explosive bowel movements” — and Tennessee is among the areas being impacted.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a notice on Wednesday that the parasite-induced illness, known as Cyclosporiasis, has been found in 17 states so far this year. As of June 16, there have been 145 cases, 20 of which have so far resulted in hospitalizations.

“These people became sick after eating food in the United States and did not report any travel during the 14 days before they got sick,” the CDC said.

The ages of those impacted have ranged from 5 to 86.

As of June 16, there are an additional 45 cases of people acquiring cyclosporiasis while they were traveling outside of the U.S. Of those, three were hospitalized.

Among both categories — those who acquired in and out of the U.S. — more than half of reported cases were women.

Where are cases of cyclosporiasis?

Of the 17 states impacted so far this year, New York has been the most impacted. Illinois and Texas follow with the number of cases reported.

Other states include Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

What is cyclosporiasis?

The CDC explains that cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.

How do you get cyclosporiasis?

The intestinal illness is acquired by eating or drinking food or water that is contaminated with feces and has the parasite in it.

The CDC says that while cyclosporiasis usually isn’t life-threatening, it typically “causes watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements.”

If left untreated, the illness can last anywhere from a few days to more than a month, with symptoms occurring intermittently.

The illness is common in the spring and summer months.

What do you do if you have cyclosporiasis?

If you think you may have cyclosporiasis, the CDC urges to contact your health care provider. It can be treated with several medications.

“Most people with healthy immune systems will eventually recover from cyclosporiasis without treatment. However, if not treated, you may be sick for anywhere from a few days to a month or longer,” the CDC says. “…People in poor health or those who are immunocompromised may be at a higher risk for severe or long illness.”

Cyclosporiasis cases in Tennessee

The current number of cases in Tennessee has not been confirmed by the CDC or the Tennessee Department of Health.

However, cases in the state are not uncommon and the number of annual cases has been rising, on average, since 2016.

There were six reported cases of cyclosporiasis in the state in 2016. By 2020, that number increased nearly 10-fold.

The last year of reported cases available on the Tennessee Department of Health’s database was 2023, when the annual count was 71.

As oppressive heat bears down on Middle Tennessee, more than 1,800 people are without power in Williamson County near Brentwood.

The outage was first reported at 7:42 a.m. July 1, according to Middle Tennessee Electric.

More than 2,400 customers lost power in the Brentwood area after an excavator used for nearby construction got into the lines and broke a pole, according to Middle Tennessee Electric spokesperson Larry Rose.

The number of outages went down to just over 1,400 customers due to Middle Tennessee Electric being able to switch the circuits around the outage location, Rose said just before 9 a.m.

The location of the damaged pole is on Sunset Road near Clovercroft Road across from the Estates at Telluride. 

Rose said outages should fall below 1,000 fairly fast, but some would also remain without power until the pole could be replaced.

Power outages were at 211 customers just before 10 a.m.

Rose estimates work could take up to four hours with Middle Tennessee Electric and contractor crews at the location and working.

No Nashville Electric Service customers over the line in Davidson County were impacted by the outage.

Middle Tennessee continues to be in an extreme heat wave. That’ll last until 8 p.m. July 3, the National Weather Service said July 1. Highs could reach 101 with an index near 110, the weather service said.