Holiday weekend outlook: Hot & steamy, then damp and cooler, followed by a nice Labor Day

This Friday morning's low temperature readings of 73º-77º around the county are proof of the sticky humidity levels, since moist air is very efficient in holding the previous day's heat. Another round of upper 90s plus heat indices in the triple digit range will characterize this afternoon, which may also be punctuated by strong to severe storms near or after the 5 o'clock hour. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has most of Virginia under a level two out of the five severe weather categories, so keep an eye on the sky.

Tomorrow will also dawn steamy with temperatures a couple degrees lower than this morning. Afternoon highs in the mid-90s will lead to heat index values again at or above 100º ahead of another round of showers and storms. Just like today, on Saturday the SPC is eyeing the region for more severe weather as a backdoor cold front drops south through the Old Dominion. Make sure to heed any weather warnings, sheltering inside a sturdy building to minimize threats from strong winds or lightning.

That boundary will eventually push south of Mecklenburg County Saturday night, with Sunday now looking showery and cloudy. The left panel of this graphic shows the forecast location of the front at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, while the right panel provides the forecast precipitation totals through Monday morning:

Behind this boundary cooler air will hold down Sunday's high temperatures to the mid-80s under mostly cloudy skies. By Monday - Labor Day - that front will have slid far enough south for local skies to clear. Temperatures look to top out in the mid-80s alongside lower humidity for some enjoyable outdoor conditions.