Greenville is starting Thursday under clear skies, with temperatures around 77 degrees and little wind. That calm morning will give way to another dangerously hot afternoon, with the high expected to reach 96 degrees and the heat index climbing to about 101.
Heat Builds Through Saturday
Sunny conditions will hold through Thursday afternoon, with south-southwest winds staying light at 1 to 6 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The agency expects another mostly clear night, with temperatures dropping only to around 74 degrees.
Friday brings a near repeat, with sunshine, a high near 96 and heat index values as high as 103. The hot stretch peaks Saturday, when Greenville could reach 97 degrees before a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms develops after 3 p.m. According to National Weather Service Greenville climate records, the warmest temperature listed for Sept. 1 is 104°F (1985).
Storm Chances Rise Sunday
Saturday night stays partly cloudy after a small chance of storms before 8 p.m., with a low around 72. More widespread rain and thunderstorms become possible Sunday, especially from midafternoon into the evening, when the chance of precipitation rises to 60% and the high reaches about 91.
The unsettled pattern may linger into Sunday night, when showers and thunderstorms are likely and temperatures fall to around 69 degrees. The National Weather Service expects a cooler Labor Day, with a 30% chance of showers and storms and a high near 83.
Relief Arrives After The Holiday
For outdoor plans Thursday through Saturday, residents should limit strenuous activity during the hottest part of the afternoon, drink plenty of water and check on people who may be more vulnerable to extreme heat. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Health, there were 209 hospitalizations and 1,814 emergency department visits for heat-related illness in South Carolina from May to September in 2022. The forecast turns more comfortable Tuesday, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 87, before temperatures edge back toward 90 Wednesday.
