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Record Heat Hits North Carolina, But Some Relief Is Coming

The extreme hot temperatures across North Carolina are causing concerns. Experts advise limiting strenuous outdoor activities until the evening and staying hydrated during the day. photo credit: dimitrisvetsikas1969 via Pixabay

The heat wave in North Carolina is causing record high temperatures in some areas of the state, including the Triad.

But where's it coming from? The short answer: a feature called a subtropical high is parked over the southeastern United States.  That's why it's so hot. But what's making it feel even worse is the humidity.

Brandon Locklear, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Raleigh, says the Triad is experiencing very high heat indexes that are potentially dangerous.

"When you combine the temperatures in the mid to upper 90s with these really high dew points in the mid to upper 70s, we start seeing heat indexes of 105 to 110 degrees,” says Locklear. “That's when it really starts to take a toll on the body.”

These scorching temperatures are raising safety concerns across the state. In Cumberland County, the town of Spring Lake temporarily suspended disconnecting residents water for unpaid bills. Likewise, some sports programs in the Triad are adjusting their practice schedules.

To stay safe, Locklear says people should limit their outdoor activities until after 6:00 p.m. and stay hydrated. And he suggests checking on the elderly and other neighbors who make not have air conditioning.

The good news: some relief is on the way. The National Weather Service says temperatures will return to their normal levels – the lower 90s – this weekend. We'll also see an increased chance of daily showers and storms early next week.

 

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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