Heat and humidity are a way of life this time of year in North Carolina. Combine the two, however, and it can turn dangerous at times if you're not prepared for it.
This is why the National Weather Service will sometimes issue Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Warnings.
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We average eight to nine advisories per year and one or two warnings per year in central North Carolina.
When are heat alerts issued?
According to the National Weather Service in Raleigh, a Heat Advisory is issued when the heat index peaks between 104° and 109°.
An Extreme Heat Warning is reserved for when the Heat Index hits or exceeds 110°.
Our bodies respond differently to the air when it's humid. It takes longer for us to cool off via sweating.
That said, there are different indicators of how things feel, including the wet bulb globe temperature. The WBGT uses more than just temperature and humidity to diagnose how we feel.
We wrote about that in a previous Ask the Meteorologist here.
Nearing record heat later in the week
Thursday and Friday will see high temperatures nearing record levels. As is usually the case in North Carolina, there will be some humidity to add.
Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final is Thursday, and we know there will be watch parties/tailgates. Make sure you're taking care of yourself!
It's possible that we see Heat Advisories issued on one or both days.
The National Weather Service in Raleigh said Tuesday, "Thu/Fri may approach or exceed records, and a heat advisory or other heat products may be needed."
Regardless of alerts, it's that time of year to be extra cautious if you plan to work outside.
The mornings and evenings, while still humid, offer at least some window of opportunity to get chores done.
In addition to staying hydrated, we emphasized the importance of electrolytes in a previous "Ask the Meteorologist" from two weeks ago.