Heat index in the Triangle could reach 110 degrees this week. How long will it last?
After multiple days in the high 80s and low 90s, The National Weather Service expects temperatures in the Triangle to continue climbing throughout the week.
Heat is predicted to peak this week as temperatures near 100 degrees in Raleigh and Durham on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
A Hazardous Weather Outlook is in effect in central North Carolina, warning residents of the dangerous temperatures.
High humidity levels are expected to raise the local heat index between 105-110 degrees.
How long will high temperatures last?
Temperatures are expected to drop back below 90 on Monday.
How to stay safe in extreme heat
Here’s how to stay safe in extreme heat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. Air conditioning is the number one way to protect yourself against heat-related illness and death, according to the CDC.
If your home is not air-conditioned, reduce your risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned and using air conditioning in vehicles. In Wake County, multiple cooling stations will be available.
Do not rely on a fan as a primary cooling device
Stay hydrated. Drink more water than usual
Check on friends and neighbors
Limit the use of the stove, oven and other appliances that will make a home hotter
Never leave children or pets in cars.
Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest
Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
Monitor friends’ and loved ones’ conditions and have someone do the same for you.
Seek medical care right away if you or someone you know has symptoms of heat-related illness.
Be on the lookout for heat-related illness.
“Age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use all can play a role in whether a person can cool off enough in very hot weather,” the CDC says.
Those 65 and older, children younger than two, and people with chronic disease or mental illness are often most susceptible to heat related illness such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
How can you tell if you’re having heat stroke? A UNC emergency doctor explains
WARNING SIGNS FOR HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS
High body temperature (103°F or higher)
Hot, red, dry or damp skin
Fast, strong pulse
Headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Confusion
Losing consciousness (passing out)
Heavy sweating
Cold, pale, and clammy skin
Fast, weak pulse
Vomiting
Muscle cramps
16 tips for surviving in hot weather — even without an air conditioner
