MOUNTAIN EMPIRE
Heat continues; humidity drops slightly Thursday afternoon
ROANOKE, Va. - A front that passed through the area Thursday, while weak, should help to keep humidity levels in check Thursday afternoon. Even still, expect temperatures to peak around 85-91 (80s in the Mountain Empire, NRV and Highlands near 90 Roanoke, Southern Shenandoah, Lynchburg, and Southside). A few hit-or-miss showers and storms will be possible late Friday afternoon as a result of this front too. Highs in the low to mid 80s, with the humidity not playing much of a role. The heat and humidity both come back in full force in the early to middle part of next week.
Significant heat likely to close out the week; relief in a few days
ROANOKE, Va. - Thursday brings temperatures in the 85-91 range (80s NRV, Highlands, Mountain Empire and low 90s Roanoke, Lynchburg and Southside). After that, high pressure settles into the eastern U.S. For us (and many others), this means a pretty significant heat wave. We care about the heat index, because our bodies cool down more slowly when the humidity is higher. If you're not drinking water, seeking shade, etc., this could lead to cramping or even heat exhaustion in some of our hotter spots. Sunday will still be very hot, but with a few additional afternoon storms to cool some of us down briefly.