Chad Kincaid is working on a road construction crew – and like many Mississippians, he’s doing what he can to stay cool as a heat dome lingers over the state. He’s taking more breaks, keeping cool drinks on hand and getting shade wherever he can with temperatures in the 90s and humidity that makes it feel even muggier.
Chad Kincaid sits in the shade to avoid the heat during a break from working on a road crew Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Jackson. Credit: Ella Jane Simmons/Mississippi Today“It was pretty manageable to deal with at first,” Kincaid said Thursday. “Then all of a sudden within a two-week span it just got incredibly hot.”
Kincaid’s coworkers on Jackson’s North State Street agreed, telling Mississippi Today that the crew had to start arriving at the site at 4 a.m. — an hour earlier than their usual start time — in order to finish their 10-hour days before it gets too hot.
“It affects you mentally,” Kincaid said. “It gets so hot that sometimes you can’t think straight.”
Mississippi is just one of several states stuck in the heat dome affecting the central, southern and eastern portions of the U.S. — a weather phenomenon where hot air is trapped in the atmosphere due to high pressure.
Jake Johnson, who works alongside Kincaid, said he prepares “like an athlete” year round to be ready for hazardous conditions that may arise by working out and eating healthy foods.
Two construction workers wave from on top of a construction site in Jackson’s Fondren neighborhood amidst heat advisories in Mississippi on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Credit: Ella Jane Simmons/Mississippi Today“This is a strenuous job,” Johnson said. “So you pretty much want to keep yourself up so that way, when you get to this point of the year, you are really conditioned to handle circumstances that come with this.”
The National Weather Service began to warn Mississippians last week, issuing heat advisories for the incoming weather. Throughout the Fourth of July weekend, temperatures could reach the mid-90s and the heat index will reach above 110 degrees in some areas of the state.Some communities have already reacted to the heat. Laurel’s Salvation Army is opening a cooling center over the weekend. Bolivar County Transportation Agency and Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi partnered with local content creator Pam Chatman to host a “Beat the Heat Event,” providing a cooling center and supplies to people in need.
However, many counties across the state have not addressed the ongoing heat issues.
A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimates that 2,300 Americans died from heat-related illness in 2023. This year, nine children across the U.S. have died of heatstroke in a car.
Jose Rodels stops for a break while completing road work on North State Street in Jackson on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Credit: Ella Jane Simmons/Mississippi TodayHeat exhaustion has become a concern for many. Heat exhaustion — sometimes known as sun stroke — occurs when a person’s core temperature reaches 101-104 degrees. If left untreated, it can lead to heatstroke, a potentially fatal form of heat exhaustion.
Jim Pollard, public affairs manager for American Medical Response ambulance service, said children and older adults are particularly at risk for heat related illness.
“As you age, the body’s ability to sense drastic changes in temperature declines,” Pollard said. “The body surface area for kids is greater for their mass compared to adults. They absorb heat faster than adults.”
American Medical Response recommends people stay properly hydrated, wear loose lightweight clothing, and avoid high-energy activities during the heat of the day. It is also recommended that people experiencing heat exhaustion symptoms should move to a cooler area and contact 911 if needed.
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