Hottest day ever recorded in Raleigh brought temperatures of 106 degrees
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Raleigh just experienced the hottest day ever recorded.
According to the National Weather Service, the high at Raleigh-Durham International Airport reached 106 degrees. The previous highest temperature recorded in Raleigh was 105 degrees. That happened in 1952, 1988, 2007 and 2012.
When you include humidity, Friday's feels like temperatures were even higher. ABC11 Chief Meteorologist Don "Big Weather" Schwenneker said the heat index also set a record.
It rose to 117.8 degrees, blasting past the previous record of 115.5 degrees set in 2010 and 2023.
Heat-related illnesses
UNC Health ER Physician Dr. Ryan Lamb tells ABC11 that heat-related illnesses can escalate quickly and catch people off-guard.
"People with chronic medical conditions -- they probably don't catch the warning signs early enough," Lamb said. "Trying to go about their day, trying to do normal things and then they get caught off-guard."
Seventy people have been admitted to WakeMed ERs since the beginning of June -- 46 in the last two weeks. At Duke Hospital, there has been at least 35 heat-related hospitalizations.
UNC Health said it sees a few heat-related hospitalizations every single day.
SEE ALSO | Cooling stations open in the Triangle as summer temperatures soar
Lamb said it's important for parents to keep a watchful eye on kids when they're playing outside in this heat.
"Similar to when you're at a pool and someone needs to be on duty making sure no-one drowns. I think it needs to be similar when the heat is like this. Instead of having them play completely independently, someone needs to be observing them," Lamb said.
What's next for the weather?
There is a little relief in the future.
An incoming cold front and a bit of upper-level energy will allow for more widespread storms tomorrow and Sunday. Any storm can be capable of producing heavy downpours and localized flash flooding. While flooding downpours will be the primary threat of these thunderstorms, temperatures in the 90s on Saturday will certainly provide enough support for some localized damaging wind gusts.
While the flash flooding from these thunderstorms isn't welcome, we certainly can use some rain as drought conditions continue to strengthen and expand across North Carolina. As the cold front moves through the area on Sunday it will usher in the end of our heat wave. The arrival of the cold front looks quick this morning which will prevent daytime highs from reaching above the 95-degree mark hanging around 90.
Off the coast, there is a non-tropical closed low that will move towards the coast next week providing a favorable atmosphere for generally hot and humid conditions. This will continue to promote afternoon and evening thunderstorms across the viewing area and will also keep our temperatures below heat wave criteria.
