Dangerous heat Tuesday pushes heat index past 100 degrees; Heat Advisories issued

HEAT ADVISORY: is in effect for western Nicholas, western Fayette, western Raleigh, Wyoming, and McDowell County until 8pm, Tuesday, July 9th. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are a real threat when heat indexes push into the 100s. Avoid the outdoors if you can, stay hydrated, and find shade or AC to help cool you down. If you find you can’t cool down after moving to a cool place, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Tuesday is where we really start to feel the influx of tropical humidity from Beryl as it continues to push closer to the region. We start with more sunshine than clouds but become more cloudy than not as the day goes on. It won’t help cool us down as we push the low 90s. Even if the thermometer doesn’t hit 90 in your town, it’ll feel every bit of 100 degrees for areas west of I-77 with the tropical humidity in the air.

A 90 degree day in summer isn’t usually a problem. Uncomfortable for some, but manageable. When we add high humidity, our bodies can’t cool themselves down naturally. Sweating is the human body’s way of cooling. Sweat evaporates which is a naturally cooling process that helps regulate our body heat. In high humidity, sweat doesn’t evaporate stopping our natural ability to cool down causing our body temperatures to rise. Too high an heat exhaustion and heat stroke become more likely, even for the more healthy populations. Take breaks, avoid the outdoors if you can, find shade or an air conditioned room, and watch for changes in mood and energy levels. If you find you can’t cool down even in a cool place, speech is troublesome, or balance is affected, call 9-1-1 immediately.

As the remnants of Beryl inch closer to our region, we’ll see winds pick up 10-15mph from the southwest and chances or two of an evening shower and thunderstorm. By the overnight hours, a few passing showers are expected with the bulk of moisture moving in for Wednesday. Lows dip only into the low 70s.

Wednesday the area of low pressure once known as Beryl sits just towards our west. When a strong area of a post-tropical low pressure system sits towards our west, the energy of the storm remains well out of our region. The indirect impacts are scattered showers, some heavy at times, elevated winds 15-20mph, and overall gloominess to the day.

Again, with dry grounds, minor street flooding and runoff pooling is possible but that is with any heavy downpour we get in summer. Our rivers are in great shape regarding flood concerns to receive the 1-2 inches of rain we’ll pick up as they could use a lot more than that just to get back to normal levels. We’re simply looking at a soggy, humid, hot, and miserably gloomy day. Highs still manage the upper 80s but it’ll feel much warmer with the oppressively high humidity levels.

By Wednesday night, Beryl continues its path towards the northwest and we’ll see clearing skies as showers fade. Winds will still be elevated 15-20mph with ridgelines seeing 20-25mph gusts. As Beryl moves away, winds shift northwesterly bringing in cooler air with lows dropping back into the 60s.

Thursday we’re a little cooler as Beryl pulls in cooler (and drier) air from Canada which will keep our mountain counties in the upper 70s and western counties in the low 80s for the day. Sun and clouds keep the sun peeking throughout the day but we’ll be watching for wrap around moisture from Beryl with an afternoon shower possible.

Friday we transition back to a more normal summer pattern as our jet stream readjusts after Beryl. Westerly winds relax some from Thursday around 10-15mph. Temps and humidity both creep back up as we push back into the mid and upper 80s. Humidity will make it feel like we’re in the low 90s west of I-77. A pop-up shower into the late afternoon and early evening will pepper a few of us with a heathy downpour.

Saturday will be a split day with an area of low pressure of the eastern seaboard. In these set ups, our easter mountains are more favored for showers/t-storm development into the afternoon and evening hours. Many towards the west simply see broken sunshine through partly cloudy skies. Highs still manage the upper 80s towards the west with the lower 80s for the mountains dealing with more cloud cover than not. After sunset storms and shower fade with lows in the upper 60s.

Sunday is again a mostly dry day but a few pop up showers and afternoon thunderstorms are possible simply due to the heat and humidity. Westerly winds with a weak disturbance from the northwest provide a sun and cloud mix to the day. Showers fade after sunset once again with a muggy overnight with lows in the 60s.

In your extended forecast, we’ll be watching for the same heat and humidity pattern we’ve come to know this summer. As less organized system push through, afternoon pop-up storms become the norm. We don’t look to enjoy any breaks from that anytime soon. These showers will help some with our on-going drought but it’ll be some time before we see much beneficial rains. Temps still running well above average keeping that summer heat around.

TUESDAY
Tropical humidity and HOT. Highs in the low 90s, feels like 100!
WEDNESDAY
Beryl arrives w/ scattered downpours. Hot. Highs in the upper 80s.
THURSDAY
Cooler, PM sct. showers. Highs in the low 80s.
FRIDAY
Humidity returns. Iso. PM t-storms. Highs in the mid 80s.
SATURDAY
Muggy & hot. Highs in the upper 80s.
SUNDAY
Sun & Clouds, humid. Highs in the upper 80s.
MONDAY
Hazy, Hot, & Humid. Highs near 90.
TUESDAY
Sun & clouds, PM shower chance. Highs in the 90s.
WEDNESDAY
Hazy, Hot, & Humid…again. PM t-storms. Highs in the 90s.
THURSDAY
You guessed, hot & humid. PM Storms. Highs near 90.

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