Residents in areas of northeast Georgia, Piedmont North Carolina, and Upstate South Carolina are bracing themselves for a hot day. The National Weather Service (NWS) has declared a Heat Advisory. The alert is valid from noon today until 8 PM EDT tonight. The heat index could reach up to 106 degrees which can lead to serious health problems.

The advisory alerts that high temperatures and humidity might result in heat related sicknesses. Residents are prompted to,

• Drink lots of fluids
• Stay in airconditioned rooms whenever you can
• Avoid direct sunlight
• Check on family members and neighbors
• Never leave young children and pets alone in cars

Possible isolated thunderstorms

Apart from the extreme heat, there is a chance of isolated thunderstorms in the Piedmont this afternoon. Main risks are strong winds, lightning hitting the ground, and heavy rain showers. Residents need to stay alert and take needed precautions if storms arise.

Extended Forecast

The NWS hasn’t warned of any dangerous weather from Wednesday through Monday apart from normal summer heat and afternoon storms. However, everyone needs to stay ready as summer weather can be risky.

Tips for staying safe in hot weather

On scorching days like this people at risk include adults over 65 years old, children younger than 4 years old, people with current medical conditions, those without access to air conditioning should be cautioned more than others. Here’s how you can stay cool,

• Drink lots of water and liquids
  Avoid the sun as much as you can
• Wear loose, lightweight, and light-colored clothes
• Find airconditioned rooms and limit exposure to the sun.
• Avoid heavy activities during the highest temperatures of the day.
• Never leave pets or children alone in shut vehicles

Efforts being taken by the community

Durham Parks & Recreation is organizing a summer splash today which will provide families with cool misting and drinking water in this extreme heat. The event will be held from 10 AM to 12 PM at the Hotel Career and Resource Center. “We’re trying to include as many kids as possible,” said Mary Unterreiner from Durham Parks &. Rec. “We hope that during our twohourlong event we won’t expose families to too much sunlight.”

Suggestions by local officials

“The summer has just begun and already we’re facing intense heat,” shared Darshan Patel, operations manager at Wake County’s Emergency Management team. “We are asking everyone to remain safe by drinking a lot of water and finding breaks in airconditioned spaces frequently.”
Cumberland County has extended cooling centers till Sunday, July 14th, to help residents deal with high temperatures.

Forecast Heat along with humidity will lead to scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms across Triangle all week. Those rain cells aren’t likely going to be very large and most probably won’t travel far from their origin.

Evaporation rates will overshoot rainfall through Wednesday, leading to dry soil despite recent rains. On Thursday and Friday, a cold front pushed by an upper air trough into eastern Carolinas will stir large areas of afternoon and evening thunderstorms. The stagnant cold front over the Triangle is predicted to unleash another day of showers and storms on Friday.

Ongoing heat wave across the US

A persistent heat wave affects large swathes of the U.S., leading to dangerous temperatures in the West reaching into three-digit numbers as well as keeping high humidity levels in the East throughout this week. An excessive heat warning issued covers about 36 million people, or around 10% of the population, informs NWS meteorologist Bryan Jackson.

Last Saturday, Raleigh, North Carolina scooped up an all-time high record of 106 degrees Fahrenheit with a maximum visual temperature scale hitting 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Residents are encouraged to drink lots of fluids, stay in airconditioned rooms, avoid sun exposure and check on family members and neighbors for their wellbeing.

Heat records being broken regularly now With climbing heights being reached by extreme temperatures including Lake Tahoe area along CaliforniaNevada border among others where heat advisories have been extended.

Reno, Nevada’s temperature soared up to a staggering top figure of 104 degrees Fahrenheit last Saturday shattering old record of 101 degrees Fahrenheit In Furnace Creek inside California’s Death Valley National Park challenging top estimations show possibility for temperature dwelling around 130 degrees Fahrenheit though Wednesday.

Health risks during high heat

In Arizona’s county Maricopa at least 13 confirmed deaths linked to high temperatures have been reported this year along with over than one hundred fifty more possible deaths currently under investigation. This includes unfortunate death case involving a young boy aged just ten years who sadly passed away suffering from a high temperature related medical event while hiking with friends out in Phoenix area location.

Effect on events and other activities

The Portland based Waterfront Blues Festival attendees managed warm weather by drinking cold water, seeking shade and using water sprays. Organizers allowed access to free airconditioned rooms in a nearby hotel to help attendees stay cool.

Concluding remarks

With the continuous heat wave affecting large sections of the country, everyone should take necessary measures to remain safe and cool. The NWS recommends residents remain cautious, hydrate frequently and seek out airconditioned spaces as much as possible. Joint efforts by local authorities along with community organizations aim to lower risks associated with extreme heat and help guarantee wellbeing of all able residents.