As July 4 weekend begins, NC forecasters warn of extreme heat, poor air quality

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The long July 4th weekend begins in North Carolina with a heat wave that will discourage many people from heading outside.

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued an “extreme heat warning” for the Triangle for noon Friday, July 3, through the evening of July 4. Forecasters say dangerously hot conditions are expected across the northern Piedmont, from Wake and Chatham counties north into Virginia. A heat advisory remains in effect for areas south of Raleigh, including Harnett and Johnston counties.

Temperatures are expected to top 100 degrees Friday, potentially exceeding the record of 101 set at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in 2012. Factor in the humidity, and the weather service says the heat index, a measure of how it feels, could reach 110 degrees.

On top of that, forecasters say Friday is a “code orange” day for air quality in Wake, Durham and Granville counties, with ground-level ozone potentially reaching unhealthy levels after 10 a.m. They urge people who are sensitive to poor air quality to limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

It will be even hotter Saturday, forecasters say, with highs of 106 possible. That would smash the July 4 record of 101 degrees and tie the highest temperature ever recorded in the Triangle, on July 5, 2024. The average high temperature this time of year is just over 90 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

The heat is causing people and institutions to alter their holiday plans. The N.C. Symphony has called off outdoor performances in Garner on Friday and Cary on Saturday because of the “record-breaking heat.”

The weather service issued the heat warning early Friday morning and urged people to take steps to avoid heat-related illnesses.

“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors,” it said.

The weather service warning extends through 8 p.m. Saturday, but the heat wave will continue into early next week. Temperatures are expected to exceed 100 again Sunday and Monday, before some stormy weather brings slight relief Tuesday. The expected high that day: 97.

This story was originally published July 3, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline “As July 4 weekend begins, NC forecasters warn of extreme heat, poor air quality.”