‘Above normal’ 105-degree heat index forecast for Charlotte region, NWS says
Heat and humidity in the Charlotte region will be “well above normal highs” on Friday, creating potentially dangerous conditions for anyone lingering in the sun, according to the National Weather Service.
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A heat advisory has been issued between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Friday for Mecklenburg, Cabarrus and Union counties, forecasters say.
Temperatures are expected to hit the upper 90s Friday, with a heat index of 105 degrees, experts say. The low after sunset will be 74 degrees, and there is a 30% potential for thunderstorms.
“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” NWS forecasters say.
“Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”
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The heat index is what temperatures feel like to the human body “when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature,” NWS says.
A heat index of between 80 and 90 degrees can cause fatigue, and when it reaches 90 to 103 degrees, people can experience heat stroke and heat cramps, experts say.
When the index exceeds 103 degrees, heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely, and heat stroke is a possibility, forecasters say.
“If you are exposed to direct sunlight, the heat index value can be increased by up to 15°F,” the National Weather Service says.
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