Today - Friday - the heat is on. The morning began with temperatures in the mid-60s around Mecklenburg county, and the afternoon looks to bring highs in the low 90s. Adding in sticky dew points in the mid-60s will push the heat index into the mid-90s. That's enough to convince the National Weather Service (NWS) to have issued this heat risk map:
Note the orange shading - level 2 - across parts of Mecklenburg county, indicating a Moderate Heat Risk. Why has the NWS come up with yet another weather index? Because heat is the number one weather killer in the U.S., more deadly than hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods.
The good news is that a weak cold front perched over the Ohio valley as this is written will eventually cross the Appalachians today, reaching Mecklenburg near midnight. There may be some scattered showers or storms ahead of the front this afternoon and evening, with only scanty amounts of precipitation. The air behind this boundary isn't really cold but it is drier than the air mass currently over Virginia.
Thus the weekend will feature pleasant June conditions for those outdoor activities. Saturday will begin in the upper 60s and top out in the mid-80s during the afternoon. Dew points and thus humidity levels will be more comfortable (i.e. less sticky) than today's readings. A northerly breeze will stir the air while skies will be clear and sunny, so remember the sunscreen!
Sunday will start with morning thermometer readings in the low 60s before those values climb into the upper 80s. Light winds will be out of the east, helping to keep it feeling relatively pleasant outdoors. Enjoy it, because next week looks rather hot and sticky!
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