RALEIGH, N.C. — Buckle up for a brutal heat wave this weekend! Temperatures are expected to soar into the upper 90s, with heat index values topping 100 degrees. This will be the most intense and sustained heat we've experienced all year.
It will be warm in the evening as well, with lows between the mid and upper 70s.
It'll be another hot day on Sunday, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees by noon.
There's no relief in sight. The extremely hot weather will continue into next week, with a high of 100 degrees possible by Wednesday.
- Sunday: Partly cloudy skies. Near-record high temperatures. High of 97. Heat index could be as high as 107.
- Monday: Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 96.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with lower humidity. Highs in the low-to-mid 90s.
WRAL Weather Alert Days issued for Sunday, Monday due to dangerous heat
Sunday and Monday are now WRAL Weather Alert Days due to dangerous heat. Heat index values will enter the 100s.
Our normal high this time of year is 89 degrees.
Sunday is going to be very similar to Saturday, with highs in the upper 90s and feels-like values up to 104 degrees. As of Saturday night, the National Weather Service is not issuing a heat advisory.
"This is due in part ot a bit of a breeze Sunday, along with heat index values remaining below the 105-degree threshold," WRAL meteorologist Anthony Baglione said. "It's still going to be hot regardless."
Sunday and Monday pose a major heat risk for all of central North Carolina. Limit your time outdoors during these days, specifically between noon and 7 p.m.
Get ready to sweat – highs are forecast to stay in the uncomfortable 90s for at least the next week. The UV index will be quite high so wear sunscreen if you plan to be outside.
Aside from a 50% chance of rain on Monday, we could get more relief on Thursday with the chance for scattered thunderstorms by the evening.
This dry stretch is perfect for outdoor projects like painting, but we desperately need rain to ease the drought conditions that these hot temperatures will worsen.
It's also important to remember pavement temperatures will be very hot for our furry friends, so try to keep them on the grass as much as possible.
High rip current risk along NC coast
The National Weather Service reported 33 rip current rescues at Carolina Beach on Saturday, along with 20 at Kure Beach and 6 at Wrightsville Beach.
The National Weather Service reported 15 rip current rescues at Carolina Beach, four rescues at Wrightsville Beach and one rescue at Kure Beach on Friday. On Thursday, there were 27 rescues in New Hanover County, 25 of which happened at Carolina Beach and two at Wrightsville Beach.
The high rip current risk is likely to continue into Sunday.
Tropical outlook: Alberto weakens to tropical depression
Tropical Storm Alberto, the season's first, has been downgraded to a tropical depression.
Alberto made landfall shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday. Northeastern Mexico was hit hard with heavy rains and flash floods, killing four people.
There's also a system off the southeast coast that has a 50% chance of developing.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs each year from June 1 to Nov. 30. The most active time is usually September through November, but it's possible to see a hurricane make landfall any time of the year.
7-day forecast for central NC
- Sunday: Sun and a chance for showers. High of 97. Heat index of 105.
- Monday: Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. Highs in the upper 90s. Heat index of 104.
- Tuesday: Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Highs in the mid to upper 90s.
- Wednesday: Sunshine and clouds mixed. High of 100. Heat index of 104.
- Thursday: Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. Slightly cooler with highs in the low 90s.
- Friday: Partly cloudy skies. High around 90.
- Saturday: Partly cloudy, high of 96.
Prepare for a busy 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will see 17 to 25 named storms in the Atlantic basin, according to the NOAA forecast. The agency has never predicted a higher number of storms for a season.
Hurricane season 2024: NOAA forecast is highest number of storms ever predicted
The number of named storms is significantly higher than the long-term average and moderately higher than recent 30-year averages, according to Lian Xie, professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences at N.C. State.
In 2024, NOAA researchers predict:
- 17 to 25 named storms
- 8 to 13 hurricanes
- 4 to 7 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher)
The NOAA forecast is in line with earlier forecasts issued by North Carolina State and Colorado State universities.
A combination of a La Niña pattern and record warm waters in the Atlantic Ocean set up the conditions for storms to form, organize and strengthen.
