Dangerous heat in Charlotte this weekend

A heat dome — plus the "corn sweat" phenomenon in some areas — is bringing dangerous levels of heat and humidity to much of the country east of the Rockies this week.

Why it matters: The Carolinas caught only a brief break from the abnormally hot and humid conditions this week, WBTV's Rachel Coulter tells Axios.

• "With dewpoints climbing back into the mid 70s and a ridge of high pressure parked over the region, our feels-like temperatures only climb from here," she says.
• The heat and humidity combo will peak this weekend.

Driving the news: The main driver is hot, moist air being drawn up from the Atlantic and trapped by a high-pressure ridge.

• Also contributing in some places: "Corn sweat," wherein vast amounts of growing corn and other produce give off moisture through evapotranspiration, further increasing humidity levels in and around agricultural zones.
• "That's more of a factor out to our west. And it's certainly not the main culprit for them either ... But it doesn't help," Coulter says.

What's next: The risk of extreme heat continues through next week for parts of the Central and Southeastern U.S., per the NWS Climate Prediction Center.

• Coulter's advice: "Be on guard for symptoms of heat-related illnesses if you're planning on spending extra time outside!"

What to know ahead of the extreme heat