Middle Georgia has baked in the sun this week in a searing heat wave that is not going to ease for several days, with temperatures expected to reach 103 degrees this weekend.

As temperatures soar into the triple digits, some counties in central Georgia are facing extreme drought conditions.

According to a state climatologist David Stooksbury the southern half of the state, including Warner Robins, is being hit the hardest and is classified in extreme drought.

In the past six months, the area has received just 60 percent of normal rainfall.

The main culprit for the current heat wave and drought can be attributed to the bermuda high, Stooksbury said.

The semi-permanent area of high pressure, which typically sits off of bermuda, is sitting on top of us blocking other weather systems from entering the area.

With little widespread rain and soaring temperatures over the next several days, conditions are expected to only get drier.

The heat and drought comes on the heels of Georgia landowners suffering millions of dollars in losses due to devastating wildfires and tornadoes.

While part of the state is in an extreme drought, it is still a

short-term drought for now.

Stooksbury says the state is not yet in the bad shape we were in 2007 when the state fell into a long-term drought that developed over a year and a half, eventually affecting water resources.

While water resources are currently in good shape, Stooksbury is urging people to be good stewards of the water we have because we do not know how long the drought will continue.