Heat index could hit 110°F in Richmond this weekend
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
We hope Richmonders enjoyed this last week of (comparatively) mild temperatures amid the sweltering summer because it's over: Dangerously high heat is back, starting Friday.
Why it matters: Heat warnings and advisories are in effect for metro Richmond through Wednesday, according to data from the National Weather Service.
The big picture: Another heat dome is bringing the dangerous levels of heat and humidity that the Midwest has been experiencing this week to the East Coast, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports.
- The main driver is hot, moist air being drawn up from the Atlantic and trapped by a high pressure ridge.
Zoom in: The temperature in Richmond will be in the high 90s for the next few days, starting Friday, and the heat index will be well over 100°F, per the National Weather Service Wakefield office.
- Saturday and Sunday will be especially brutal with heat indices reaching 109°F and 110°F, respectively.
- High humidity, which Richmonders will feel acutely this weekend, is especially dangerous, as Axios' Tina Reed and Natalie Daher recently reported, disrupting our bodies' ability to regulate temperatures.
Threat level: Starting Saturday, the hottest weather in the country will "be found in Virginia and the Carolinas," per the Washington Post.
- Metro Richmond is under a "major" risk for heat-related issues for anyone without proper hydration or adequate cooling through Wednesday, per the NWS HeatRisk index.
- Long-duration heat waves can be particularly serious events, with warm evenings offering less of a reprieve and extreme heat having a cumulative effect on our health.
During these major risk periods, locals should stay hydrated and in air-conditioned spaces and consider canceling outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day, the NWS advises.
What's next: Next month brings possible relief.
- There are signs that the beginning of August "may turn notably cooler in central and eastern states," per the Post.
The bottom line: It's been a brutal summer, and it isn't over yet.