Charlotte is heading into a one-two weather punch Thursday: mostly sunny skies and a high near 97 degrees, followed by muggy evening thunderstorms. The heat index could reach 103, making the afternoon feel more like a triple-digit endurance test than a routine summer day.
Heat Builds Through Thursday Afternoon
Temperatures will climb quickly from the mid-70s early Thursday to the upper 90s by midafternoon. Southwest winds will stay light at 0 to 6 mph, offering little relief as humidity pushes the heat index into dangerous territory.
Storm chances increase after 8 p.m., with showers and thunderstorms possible through about 3 a.m. Friday. The latest National Weather Service forecast calls for around a 40% chance of rain and less than a tenth of an inch for most locations, though stronger storms could bring briefly heavy rain and gusty winds.
Friday Looks Wetter And Nearly As Muggy
Friday will be partly sunny with a high near 92, but the heat index may again reach 104. A slight chance of showers arrives in the morning before thunderstorm chances increase during the afternoon, when the overall chance of precipitation rises to 80%.
Rain could become especially persistent late Friday into Friday night, with projected totals between a quarter and half an inch during the day and another half to three-quarters of an inch overnight. That combination of repeated storms and heavy downpours could create slick roads, ponding and slower travel, particularly where storms pass over the same areas more than once.
Cooler, Drier Weather Arrives This Weekend
Saturday brings a high near 89 with mostly sunny skies and only a 20% chance of an afternoon shower or thunderstorm. Sunday looks like the clean break Charlotte has been waiting for: sunny, dry and near 90, followed by a mostly clear night near 68.
Sunny, seasonable weather is expected to continue Monday and Tuesday, with highs near 89 and lows in the upper 60s. A few shower and thunderstorm chances return Tuesday night and Wednesday, but the forecast remains notably drier than the stormier stretch from Thursday evening through Friday.
What Charlotte Residents Should Know
Limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of Thursday and Friday, drink water regularly and check on children, older adults and pets. Seek shelter indoors as soon as thunder is heard, and never drive through water covering a roadway.
No watches, warnings or advisories are listed for the Charlotte area as of Thursday morning, but conditions can change quickly once storms begin developing. Outdoor plans are safest early Thursday and Saturday, while Friday afternoon and evening carry the highest rain and thunderstorm risk.
