Got storms? Heat? How about both?

Mecklenburg's recent relatively cool and quiet weather has faded into the haze of summer weather. One indication of that is the dew point reading, the true measure of humidity. Check out these Wednesday morning values (blue numbers):

Dew points in the 70s are a harbinger of both "air you can wear" and the potential for showers and storms. Both factors are in today's forecast.

A high pressure center has moved off the East Coast, and the return flow around it is producing southwesterly winds (note the arrows in the graphic above). Those winds will gust up to 20 mph today as they pump in more moisture from the Gulf region. In addition, a few showers are crossing the Virginia Piedmont and have reached Mecklenburg County as this post is being written. 

The morning rain will dampen the ground, with another round of showers and possible storms on the way this afternoon and evening. Liquid totals in local rain gauges won't be much, perhaps a tenth of an inch or so by midnight. This afternoon temperatures will top out in the mid-80s under mostly cloudy skies. The heat index ("feels like" temperatures) will be a few degrees higher than that.

Thursday then looks to be hot and sticky under sunny skies. Afternoon highs will be in the upper 90s, and heat indices will climb into the triple digits. The Storm Prediction Center has much of Virginia under a Slight Risk - level 2 out of 5 - for severe weather tomorrow. Storm chances are relatively low, but any that do form will be in the late afternoon into the evening hours. 

It's time to practice those heat safety tips, and to have multiple ways of receiving weather warnings (weather radio, local TV/radio, smartphone apps, etc) in case severe storms arrive.