Heat index in Charlotte could exceed 105 multiple days this week, NWS says
The Charlotte region will start feeling like a frying pan come Wednesday, and forecasters expect the sticky misery to linger into next week.
This includes a heat index – how hot it actually feels – of 105 degrees every day from Thursday through Monday, the National Weather Service says.
Meanwhile, the temperature will be at or near 100 degrees, which means the insides of a parked car could get hot enough to bake a custard pie (173+ degrees).
It remains to be seen if Charlotte will set a Fourth of July heat record, with forecasters calling for a high in the upper 90s.
The current record high for the holiday is 99 degrees set in 1993, records show.
Forecasters are warning conditions could likely be dangerous due to high humidity, which raises the heat index.
“The heat index, also known as the apparent temperature, is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature,” the NWS says.
“When the body gets too hot, it begins to perspire or sweat to cool itself off. If the perspiration is not able to evaporate, the body cannot regulate its temperature. ... When the atmospheric moisture content (i.e. relative humidity) is high, the rate of evaporation from the body decreases. In other words, the human body feels warmer in humid conditions.”
People who must be outside are advised to drink plenty of fluids, take frequent rest breaks and stay in the shade when possible.
Those who live in homes without air conditioning also face dangers, including the older people and younger children, experts say.
“With the combination of warm overnight lows, generally remaining in the 70s, providing limited relief and prolonged daytime, there is an increased risk of heat-related illnesses, especially for vulnerable populations,” the NWS says.
This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 11:06 AM with the headline "Heat index in Charlotte could exceed 105 multiple days this week, NWS says."