Hitting the Century Mark: A look back at 100-degree days in Raleigh, Durham, Sandhills

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- We already hit the century mark twice this year, and we're headed that way again this weekend.

As I was working on my forecast, I said to myself, "Self, I wonder how many times we hit 100 or more last year?"

So, I headed into the database and began reviewing some numbers. Here's what I came up with...

Last year was the year with the most 100-degree days we've seen in nearly 50 years of data. We touched 100 ten times! The second-highest amount was reached nine times, and we achieved this twice in 2011 and again in 2012.

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Then I looked at how many times we went to the century mark. Since 1948, we have hit 100 degrees exactly 100 times. That's all in the Raleigh-Durham area. But I know we have just a couple of viewers in the Sandhills, too. So back to the numbers I went.

FAYETTEVILLE

In Fayetteville, we had exactly 50 years of data to look at. Over that period, we averaged reaching temperatures of 100 degrees or more 2.6 times per year. Fayetteville has only gone there once in 2025 (so far) and twice in 2024. Its highest number of 100+ days occurred back in 1983, when it experienced it 15 times.

Yes, there have been years where we didn't do it, but we are headed there again this weekend, so make sure to take precautions now.

When you factor in humidity, we could feel like 109+ degrees in spots.

The fourth heat wave of the year is forecast for Central NC from Friday, July 25th, through at least the middle of next week. A combination of highs in the 90s/near 100 and high humidity will result in feels-like temps of 105 to 109+ degrees. Heat-related impacts are possible, especially for vulnerable people sensitive to heat, and Heat Advisories are likely.

Here are some heat safety tips

Long-duration abnormally warm overnight lows will have a chance to break daily records from Friday through the weekend and likely persist through the middle of next week.

And for those of you who are data nerds (like me), here is where I got all the numbers.

Stay cool, my friends!