A major heat wave will engulf the Piedmont this week with temperatures about 12 to 15 degrees above average.
A strong high-pressure system in the lower Ohio-Tennessee Valley is bringing temperatures in the upper 90s to the lower 100s to the Piedmont. By midweek, forecasters are calling for heat index temperatures — what the temperature feels like on your skin — of between 105 and 110 degrees.
National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Kren recommends staying indoors during the heat of the day — roughly 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. — but if you have to be out, bring lots of water.
"Take frequent breaks," he says. "If you're in the sun, definitely have sunscreen. Check in on the elderly, check in on the vulnerable population, stay in air-conditioned rooms, or an apartment or house. Those kind of things can go a long way in helping to prevent heat stroke."
Kren says by the weekend, Triad temperatures will cool slightly to the mid-90s. And in the High Country, temperatures should remain in the 80s.