Heat advisory in effect for WV, VA and MD. Real feel index above 100, air quality poor

National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook at 3:15 a.m. Wednesday for portions of eastern West Virginia, northern and central Virginia, and central and western Maryland.

A heat advisory is in effect for much of the area Wednesday afternoon and early evening. Temperatures are expected to reach 96-97 degrees with a real feel index of 103 in Augusta County. Air quality will also be poor throughout the day in the Shenandoah Valley.

There is potential for clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts late Wednesday afternoon and evening, especially north of Highway 50 and Interstate 66.

The following areas are under a heat advisory for Wednesday:

Washington-Frederick MD-Carroll-Northern Baltimore- Northwest Montgomery-Northwest Howard-Northwest Harford- Augusta- Rockingham-Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Page-Warren-Clarke-Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper- Northern Fauquier-Southern Fauquier-Western Loudoun-Eastern Loudoun-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge- Central Virginia Blue Ridge-Northwest Prince William-Hampshire-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-Hardy

More: Business Beat: A fall festival in Crimora; Big Red BBQ's new hours; homebuying 101 seminar

National Weather Service forecast for Augusta County

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 96 degrees. West wind around 7 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Wednesday night

Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69 degrees. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday

A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 11 a.m. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a high near 88 degrees. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday night

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 11 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 67 degrees. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

More: Two arrested after Burger King employee beaten in Verona

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Heat advisory in effect for WV, VA and MD. Real feel index above 100, air quality poor