Heat!! But a glimmer of hope is now on the horizon

The current heat wave is hanging tough, with a Heat Advisory (orange shading in graphic) in place today - Sunday - for Mecklenburg County. Locally, today's heat index will approach 110º given the combination of high temperatures in the mid-90s and dew points in the mid-70s. Meanwhile, an Extreme Heat Warning (magenta shading) covers counties immediately to the south and east, with heat indices exceeding that 110º threshold.

The entire region is thus experiencing dangerous levels of heat and will continue to do so through most of the upcoming work week. The only thing that may moderate these conditions is rainfall, but showers and storms will be very scattered today and over the next several days. 

Heat stress on people and animals is cumulative, and it doesn't help that nocturnal temperatures won't drop below the mid-70s this week. Staying hydrated is important, as is taking frequent breaks in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible. And don't even think about leaving children or pets in vehicles for any length of time...interior temperatures soar rapidly in these conditions.

But the cavalry is coming to the rescue late this week! This brutal heat wave will be broken by a strong cold front propelled by a southern dip in the jet stream. Beginning Friday temperatures will drop below average to begin the month of August. In fact, here's the outlook for the first week of next month:

So practice these heat safety tips over the next several days and hang on until Friday!