Raleigh rolled into Tuesday with skies mostly cloudy and the air already feeling like a wet blanket, with official observations near 73°F and dew points in the low 70s. That sticky start is only going up from here, with afternoon temperatures headed for the low 90s and heat index values expected to flirt with about 100 to 102°F in the hottest spots.
Afternoon Heat And Storms
Showers and thunderstorms could start popping after 1 p.m., as daytime heating runs into a weak frontal boundary overhead. The best odds for storms come in the late afternoon. Highs should land near 91°F, and a southwest breeze around 2 to 12 mph, with gusts up to about 21 mph, may make it feel even warmer. Any stronger storms could dump brief heavy downpours that cut visibility on area roads in a hurry.
Evening Severe Potential
Much of central North Carolina sits under a slight risk, level 2 of 5, for severe thunderstorms Tuesday evening. The main concern is damaging wind gusts, with a smaller chance of an isolated tornado or large hail. The prime time for the strongest storms runs roughly from 4 to 8 p.m., as activity slides southeast across the region and fades after midnight. According to NWS Raleigh, anyone outdoors should be ready to head inside quickly if storms start closing in.
Tonight And Wednesday
Showers and thunderstorms are likely before 1 a.m., with most spots picking up around a tenth to a quarter of an inch of rain. Overnight lows will hover near 70°F. Wednesday looks like a reset, with mostly sunny skies, a high near 90°F, and slightly less humid air riding in on northwest winds.
How To Prepare
If you can, shift outdoor plans away from the late afternoon and evening, have a safe indoor backup ready, and keep an eye on radar if you need to be on the road. Lightning and gusty winds can knock down branches and trigger brief power outages. For broader heat-safety advice, check out our June heat-safety guide.
