Charlotte woke up Monday to that classic summer wall of humidity, with the official temperature near 74°F and the dew point almost matching it, which made the air feel downright thick. Highs are headed for the upper 80s to around 90 today, with only a light north-northwest breeze to stir things up. The real focus, though, is on Tuesday, when building heat and humidity are expected to fuel afternoon and evening thunderstorms.
Afternoon Heat
Expect mostly sunny skies this afternoon with a high near 90 and north-northwest winds around 0 to 5 mph. Overnight lows will only drop to about 72, so it stays on the muggy side after dark. By Tuesday, the heat kicks up another notch, with widespread mid 90s expected across the Piedmont and valley spots climbing into the lower 90s.
Tuesday Storm Risk
Showers and thunderstorms are possible Tuesday afternoon, with the better chance developing after 4 p.m. and lingering into the evening hours. Many storms will look like the usual summer pop-ups, but forecasters caution that any organized clusters could bring damaging wind gusts and isolated hail. Gusts in stronger cells have been forecast as high as 23 mph. Plan to check for updates and any short-term warnings before evening activities, according to the National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg.
Where To Cool Off
Mecklenburg County and partner agencies have been operating cooling centers during recent hot stretches. Frequently used spots include Eastway Regional Recreation Center at 3150 Eastway Park Drive and Roof Above’s Day Services Center at 945 N. College St. Some locations are reachable by transit, and you can find locations and hours in this roundup of cooling centers and hours.
What To Do Now
For now, play it smart in the heat: bring water, find shade when you can, and push any nonessential outdoor exertion to cooler parts of the day, especially outside the late-morning-to-early-evening window. There are no watches or warnings in effect for the Charlotte area at this time. Before you head out, check the latest updates from the National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg.
