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.
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…