Summer heat, humidity, and storms...they go together

Hope folks enjoyed the brief cool break this week. A typical late June heat dome is setting up across the central and eastern U.S., and that feature will last a while per these two forecast graphics:

Today's (Friday's) afternoon temperatures will boost into the mid-90s as dew points climb back into the uncomfortable range. Those two factors will lead to chances of storms, a few of which are possible later today and tonight.

By dawn Saturday temperatures will hover near the 70º mark before beginning their march upward into the 90s. Tomorrow afternoon a slow-moving cold front will be draped west-to-east across Virginia. Meanwhile an upper level disturbance will cross the region. That combination has convinced the Storm Prediction Center to issue a Slight Risk - level 2 of 5 - for severe storms over the southeastern third of the state (including Mecklenburg County). 

The chief threat will be damaging straight line winds. Make sure to have at hand at least two methods of receiving weather warnings (an inexpensive NOAA weather radio ought to be one of them). If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued take shelter on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows. 

Saturday night looks to be wet, but by sunrise Sunday (5:57 a.m. at the Kerr Dam) the cloud cover will have thinned out. The latter weekend day will then feature mostly sunny skies with highs again in the 90s. More storms are possible Sunday afternoon, but the threat of severe weather will be less than Saturday's. Even so, remember "If Thunder Roars Head Indoors". Lightning is a bigger threat than many folks realize.

As for next week, temperatures could top the triple digits by Wednesday. Brace for it.