Heat index of 109 degrees forecast for Charlotte. Take precautions, experts say

Charlotte is forecast to hit 101 degrees Thursday and the heat index – how hot it feels – will be 109 degrees in the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

That means asphalt and metal benches could cause burns on bare skin, and cars left in the sun will reach potentially fatal temperatures, experts say.

A Heat Advisory is in place from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, due to the potential for the heat to cause illness. And an Air Quality Alert was issued midday Thursday, due to ground level ozone concentrations reaching unhealthy standards, NWS forecasters say.

It is also expected to hit 100 on Friday and a new heat record may be set on the Fourth of July, if temperatures reach a forecast of 101 degrees, the NWS says. The current record for the holiday is 99 degrees, set in 1993.

Meanwhile, the heat index will bounce between 104 and 109 degrees through Tuesday. The index is calculated by factoring in the amount of humidity in the air. The higher the humidity, the hotter air feels on human skin, experts say.

The National Weather Service says the heat wave has been moving east across the country, and currently extends from northern Georgia up to southern Massachusetts.

“Numerous daily temperature records are expected Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with some monthly and all-time records possible,” the NOAA Weather Prediction Center says.

“Low temperatures only dropping into the 70s or near 80 will provide little to no relief during the overnight hours. The lack of nighttime cooling compounds the impacts of a long duration heat wave and makes them more dangerous. Prolonged periods of extreme heat are among the deadliest weather hazards in the United States because the impacts build over time.”

Anyone with outdoor plans during the holiday weekend is urged to “stay hydrated, take frequent breaks in air-conditioned or shaded areas, and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.”

This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 8:23 AM with the headline "Heat index of 109 degrees forecast for Charlotte. Take precautions, experts say."