Typical hot, sticky, and stormy conditions to begin the first full week of July

The early July heat wave has subsided, but don't expect the outdoors to feel comfortable. The lower atmosphere is absolutely loaded with moisture, exemplified by this - Monday - morning's very sticky dew points across Mecklenburg County. Temperatures today and Tuesday will top out in the low to mid-90s after morning lows in the 70s.

Given plenty of sunshine, plus leftover outflow boundaries from weekend storms, this sticky air mass will lead to more showers and storms today and tomorrow. In fact, the National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch through midnight tonight. Showers and storms which do form will move at a snail's pace, given that the jet stream (the steering mechanism) is still well north into Canada. 

As a result of the potential for more storms, the Storm Prediction Center has the county under a Marginal Risk - level 1 of 5 - for severe weather both Monday and Tuesday. The chief threat will be strong damaging straight line winds accompanied by the always concerning lightning threat. Forecast rain totals over the next 72 hours could help settle the dust from the ongoing dryness, but it'll take a lot more moisture than this to break the drought.

Keep eyes and ears open for any weather warnings (remember, a "warning" means it's actually occurring!) that may be issued. And be sure to take shelter inside a vehicle or a building if lightning is nearby. "When Thunder Roars, Head Indoors" is a good safety reminder.