Heat wave in Charlotte? Heat index of 100+ forecast for weekend, with storms mixed in
A potentially dangerous heat wave and severe storms with hail and damaging winds threaten the Charlotte region this weekend, National Weather Service meteorologists said Friday.
Charlotte’s heat index value, a combination of temperature and humidity, could soar to 100 Saturday and 106 or 107 Sunday, NWS meteorologist Mike Rehnberg told The Charlotte Observer Friday morning.
‘’Dehydration and overheating can creep up very quickly,” Rehnberg said, referring to people exerting themselves outdoors when the heat index rises to the mid-100s.
To avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke, stay inside at least during the hottest part of the day and stay hydrated, he said.
Stifling humidity and temperature highs of 91 and 96 are forecast Saturday and Sunday, Rehnberg said.
“It will be that humidity that’s boosting the index values,” he said.
Heat index values are forecast to ease Monday but climb again Tuesday into the upper 90s, Rehnberg said.
Use “extreme caution” doing prolonged outdoor activity when the heat index value hovers between 91 and 103, according to the NWS Heat Index Value chart. Values of 103 to 124 fall in the “danger” zone, according to the NWS.
Code Orange unhealthy air day
Charlotte and most of the western Carolinas also faced another Code Orange air quality day through late Friday due to smoke from Canadian wildfires and ozone from a “stagnating” high-pressure weather system, NWS meteorologists in the Greer, South Carolina, office said on Twitter.
Code Orange means the air is “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” according to the alert by the N.C. Division of Air Quality.
The air is expected to improve to Code Yellow Saturday, Sunday and Monday, meaning a “moderate” risk to people, according to the state.
Storm chances
Mecklenburg and surrounding counties face the greatest risk of severe storms overnight, Rehnberg said.
No threat was expected from storms forecast to develop Friday afternoon in the mountains, Charlotte area and Upstate South Carolina, but another line of storms late at night and on Saturday could be more intense, he said.
“Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop across the area Saturday,” according to an NWS hazardous weather bulletin Friday. “The strongest thunderstorms may organize into a line and produce small hail and damaging winds.”
July 4 forecast
Charlotte had a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday, according to the NWS Charlotte forecast at 11 a.m. The high reached 90 degrees, NWS forecasters said.
The risk of storms rose to 40% late at night before the chance falls to a slight 20% to 30% risk Saturday through Thursday, according to the forecast.
Revelers rejoice: July 4 should be mostly sunny with a high near 93, the forecast shows.
This story was originally published June 30, 2023 at 12:33 PM.