by This Thursday, July 24th, central North Carolina will get another brutal stretch of summer heat. People in the Raleigh area should be on high watch because temperatures will be rising quickly and there is a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. As temperatures rise to 91°F and humidity rises, the National Weather Service tells everyone to stay hydrated, limit their time outside, and keep a close eye on neighbors who might be at risk.
The National Weather Service in Raleigh says that Thursday will start out mostly sunny but then clouds will start to form and some thunderstorms may happen after 2 p.m. Winds will be calm in the morning, but by afternoon, they will be blowing northeast at 5 mph. Even though there is only a 20% chance of storms, any cell that forms could bring strong rain and lightning for a short time, especially near I-40 and I-440.
This Friday is the start of a long summer. The high temperature in Raleigh and the surrounding Wake County areas is near 96°F, which makes it more likely that someone will get sick from the heat. The overnight lows in the mid-70s won’t help much. High temperatures will stay in the mid- to upper-90s on Saturday and Sunday. In some areas, the heat index could get close to 100 degrees.
Health officials tell people not to do anything too strenuous in the afternoon, to check on old relatives, and to never leave pets or children in cars. Stay hydrated and cool off with air cooling if you can.
Through the beginning of next week, there will be more hot, sunny days. At night, when the sky is partly dark, it’s a little cooler, but the heat comes back every day. Stay tuned for more news and possible warnings as this summer trend continues.
Five-Day Raleigh Weather Outlook:
- Thursday, July 24: Mostly sunny, high 91°F. Slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
- Friday, July 25: Sunny, high 96°F. Overnight low 78°F.
- Saturday, July 26: Hot and sunny, high 99°F. Night low 78°F.
- Sunday, July 27: Sunny and hot, high near 98°F. Night low 77°F.
- Monday, July 28: Continued heat, sunny, high 96°F. Night low 76°F.
