Hottest Days Of The Year, Air Quality Alert For Charlotte Metro

CHARLOTTE, NC — The lead in to the weekend will be hot and humid, with the Charlotte metro experiencing the hottest conditions so far this year, according to the National Weather Service.

According to NWS, heat index values up to 105 degrees are expected Thursday and Friday throughout western North Carolina, as well as the Piedmont. The heat advisory is in effect for areas including Mecklenburg, Iredell, Gaston, Lincoln, Cleveland, Davie and Rowan counties through Friday, July 30.

Additionally, a code orange air quality alert is in effect for Charlotte, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord and Kannapolis until 8 p.m. Thursday.

Under code orange conditions, the outdoor air quality is likely to be unhealthy for some people. Children, people who are sensitive to ozone, and people with heart or lung disease should limit prolonged outdoor exertion during the late afternoon or early evening when ozone concentrations are highest.

For additional information on the air quality index, visit the Air Now website.

Here is the National Weather Service forecast through the end of the week:

Today (July 29)
Sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 102. West southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South southwest wind 5 to 7 mph.

Friday (July 30)
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 1pm and 5pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 102. West southwest wind 5 to 7 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. North wind 3 to 6 mph.

Saturday (July 31)
A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. North northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

Saturday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.

Sunday (Aug. 1)
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 40%.