By admin 
The Fourth of July weekend is shaping up to be one of the hottest on record for Raleigh and across central North Carolina, with dangerously high heat expected to peak Saturday.
Read more Iran begins dayslong funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in war
Highs in Raleigh could reach 103 degrees Saturday afternoon, which would break the record for the hottest Fourth of July, set just two years ago in 2024 when the temperature climbed to 101 degrees.
When you factor in the humidity, it will feel even hotter, with heat index values ranging from 105 to near 110 degrees during the hottest part of the day. This forecast heat has an Extreme Heat Warning in effect through 8 PM Saturday.
The intense heat won’t be a one-day event. Triple-digit temperatures are expected to continue through the holiday weekend and into Monday as a strong dome of high pressure remains locked over the Southeast. That setup will keep skies mostly sunny, rain chances limited, and the heat firmly in place.
A stray afternoon shower or thunderstorm cannot be ruled out Saturday or Sunday, but coverage looks very isolated and won’t provide much relief for most. The better opportunity for more widespread rain arrives early next week as the ridge begins to weaken and a boundary approaches from the north.
That pattern change should bring temperatures down a bit, though “cooler” is relative this time of year. Highs by Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to settle back into the low 90s, much closer to average for early July in Raleigh.
Read more Boston’s Aroldis Chapman sets MLB record for strikeouts as a reliever with his 1,364th K
FORECAST
SATURDAY will be partly cloudy and very hot. A stray shower or storm in the afternoon is possible. The high will be 103 with a heat index of 109. Winds will be southwest at 5 miles per hour.
OVERNIGHT will be mostly clear. The low will be 76. Winds will be southwest at 5 miles per hour.
SUNDAY will be partly cloudy and very hot. A stray shower or storm in the afternoon is possible. The high will be 102 with a heat index of 108. Winds will be southwest at 5 to 10 miles per hour.
Follow the CBS 17 Storm Team on socials for the latest weather updates:
Chief Meteorologist Wes Hohenstein: Facebook | X | Instagram
Morning Meteorologist Rachel Duensing: Facebook | X | Instagram
Meteorologist Ross Whitley: Facebook | X | Instagram
Meteorologist Matthew Huddleston: Facebook | X | Instagram
This forecast was prepared by the CBS 17 Storm Team and is based on the latest information available and years of weather forecasting experience in North Carolina. It was not produced by a computer like many forecasts you find on the web, social media and smart phone apps.
Read more Mike Trout hoping to return from injury for Angels next week ahead of Philly All-Star Game