ROANOKE, Va. – A heat wave is defined as three consecutive days or more of 90° heat/above-average heat. That’s exactly what we’ll see to close out the week. That all starts Wednesday, as high temperatures reach into the upper 80s and lower 90s.
A stray storm can’t be ruled out solely due to the combination of heat, humidity and air rising up certain mountains.
Come Thursday, we’ll be even hotter. High temperatures for most of us reach well into the 90s.
A weak boundary nearby may be enough to trigger hit-or-miss storms after 4 p.m. or so. That said, it looks like the greater concentration of showers and storms will be farther north.
The high heat continues Friday and Saturday, which will likely be the hottest days of 2023 so far. Combine that with the humidity, and it will feel like 100° or higher in parts of the Roanoke Valley, Lynchburg Area and Southside.
A few things to keep in mind on these exceptionally hot days:
- Take breaks if working outside, or limit your time working to the morning and evening hours.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Never leave a living thing in a hot car.
- Wear lightweight/light-colored clothing.
- Make sure the ceiling fan is spinning counter-clockwise, so that cooler air circulates downward.
Storms will fire up with a front nearby Saturday - and perhaps Sunday too. Some may become strong or severe.
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