By Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist

For many cities across the South, this September is on track to be one of the warmest, if not the warmest September on record. In what seems like a never-ending summer across the region, it has many people asking the question, “When will the heat come to an end?”

Unfortunately for those that felt the heat this past weekend, the stagnant ridge of high pressure responsible for the persistent heat will continue to sit in place for much of this week.

Many cities will once again challenge record-high temperatures Monday, some of which have stood for over 100 years.

There are signs that cooler air is on the way, but many will have to wait a bit longer. Multiple storm systems dropping southward out of Canada into the United States this week will act to slowly suppress the ridge of high pressure in place over the South.

The train of storms expected this week will act to bring temperatures in the mid-South closer to seasonable levels by late week. Places like Nashville and Knoxville, Tennessee, and Louisville, Kentucky, can expect to have relief from the heat starting Friday and lasting through the weekend.

The dip in the jet stream pattern across the mid-South will also act to bring more chances for rain in the forecast. As drought conditions expand, this is good news for the region. While much of this week continues to look dry across the region, welcome rain looks likely early next week.

These systems won’t be able to completely wipe out the heat across the South, as the ridge of high pressure will continue to be reluctant to budge. Unfortunately for cities like Jackson, Mississippi; Montgomery, Alabama; and Macon, Georgia, above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall could persist into the second week of October.

Along with the persistent heat across the Deep South, the pattern of dry weather is forecast to continue into next week.

As we remain in the heart of the Atlantic tropical season, drought relief in the form of a tropical system is common across the South. AccuWeather meteorologists are continuing to monitor an area in the Caribbean where development may be possible in the next week or two.

It may sound like a broken record at this point, but citizens across the Deep South will have to continue dealing with record-challenging heat through much of this week. Farther north, a return to near-normal temperatures this weekend will feel more like fall compared to recent weeks.