Charlotte braces for hot temps as ‘heat dome’ arrives in region over the weekend
An extreme heat wave, dubbed a ‘heat dome,’ sweeping across the U.S. will arrive in the Charlotte this weekend bringing already-high temperatures until the middle of next week.
Charlotteans can expect to see temperatures steadily rising beginning Wednesday through Monday, climbing from the low to mid-90s, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Doug Outlaw.
Wednesday will see a high of 92 degrees, Thursday 94, and Friday, which marks the first day of the summer season, 90. The heat will continue on Saturday with temperatures expected to reach 93 and 94 on Sunday.
But Monday is expected to be the hottest day of the heatwave, Outlaw said, with a high of 96 degrees. Tuesday and Wednesday of next week will see a one-degree temperature drop to 95. But humidity could make temperatures feel even hotter in the region.
The heat index could feel hotter. The National Weather Service says the heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when humidity is mixed with air temperature.
An NWS max heat index map shows that Charlotte and Concord could feel as high as 102 and Monroe 105. Other parts of the state, including Raleigh and Fayetteville, are also expected to see heat index temperatures in the triple digits, according to WRAL.
While “heat dome,” isn’t an official National Weather Service term, Outlaw said, these kind of heatwaves are common for the Charlotte region in June. A record was set in June 2023, when the last two days of the month saw temperatures of 104 degrees.
And while those records aren’t expected to be broken, Outlaw said people should still be cautious when working outside this week and next. He said people should stay hydrated and remember to take breaks.
“Try to find an air-conditioned location to cool off,” Outlaw said. “And shade trees provide a bit of relief.”
The end of next week will see an increased chance of showers, thunderstorms and cloudiness.
This story was originally published June 18, 2025 at 12:19 PM.
