Forecasters are projecting that an extreme heat wave will settle over the Triangle heading into the July 4 holiday.
Why it matters: Heat waves — which are growing longer on average in North Carolina — bring dangerous health risks for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, the elderly and homeless people.
Driving the news: The National Weather Service's Raleigh office predicts that heat index values between July 1 and July 4 could exceed 100 to 105 degrees across the Triangle.
Peak temperatures could break 105 degrees in some places, the NWS warned.
What they're saying: "Bottom line ... begin preparations now for the potential for highs [of] possibly 100+ for 3-4 consecutive days," NWS Raleigh meteorologists said in their written discussions of the forecast.
"To make matters worse, overnight lows may have a hard time dropping below 80, with 90 still possible at midnight."
