The Triangle could see 100+ temps this week. When will the heat wave end?
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- Temperatures in the Triangle will surpass 100 degrees early in the week.
- Slight relief may come this weekend, with a higher chance of thunderstorms.
- Cooling stations public buildings in the Triangle remain open through at least June 25.
Temperatures across the Triangle will reach highs above 100 degrees early this week, with little relief expected.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for central North Carolina, including the Triangle, lasting from 11 a.m. Monday, June 23, to 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 24. An extreme heat watch is in effect Tuesday morning until the evening of Wednesday, June 25.
These temperatures are the hottest of the season so far, the National Weather Service says, with conditions made more dangerous with the combination of warm low temperatures, light winds, sunny skies and a lack of overnight cooling.
Here’s what to know about the heat expected this week, and when the Triangle may get some relief.
How hot will it be this week?
Forecasters predict the highest temperatures will come early in the week. The high is expected to be around 100 degrees June 23 and around 101 degrees June 24.
The heat index may be around 105 degrees Monday and up to 110 degrees Tuesday, said Phil Badgett, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Forecast Office in Raleigh.
“It’s just the combination of the really hot temperatures under the high pressure, and the light wind and the high humidity, that will make the heat index values really high,” Badgett said.
The low temperatures overnight into Tuesday are expected to be in the mid-to-upper 70s, and closer to 80 in urban areas, Badgett said.
When will the heat wave end?
The temperatures may dip slightly Wednesday and Thursday, Badgett said, with cloudy skies and a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. But it would only be a few degrees cooler.
“It’s just going to be really, really hot,” Badgett said.
Friday may be a bit drier, but the high temperature is still predicted to be around 97 or 98 degrees, with a heat index similar to those of Wednesday and Thursday.
The better chances for cooling won’t come until Saturday and Sunday, when the high pressure starts to break down and there are higher chances of thunderstorms. High temperatures over the weekend are predicted to be in the low-to-mid 90s, with heat indices around 100 degrees.
How to stay safe in high heat
With high temperatures, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses.
- Minor heat-induced illness may include heat cramps, heat edema (swelling) or heat rash. It could also include passing out or a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute.
- Moderate heat-induced illness may include heat exhaustion, nausea, fatigue and passing out.
- Severe heat-induced illness includes heat stroke, which occurs when temperatures are above 104 degrees.
Best practices for staying safe in hot weather include hydrating, wearing proper clothing and staying inside during peak high temperatures, Dr. Ryan Lamb, the medical director and chair of the emergency department at UNC Rex Hospital and Rex Holly Springs, previously told The News & Observer.
Cooling stations in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill
Several Triangle counties are opening cooling stations, where people can find relief from high temperatures.
Here’s where to find them:
- Wake County Public Libraries will open as cooling stations until at least Wednesday, June 25. Find opening hours of specific libraries at wake.gov.
- Wake County Health and Human Services Centers and Regional Centers are open 8:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. daily until June 25. See locations at wake.gov.
- Durham County Libraries (Main Library, East Regional, North Regional, South Regional, Southwest Regional and Stanford L. Warren) are open as cooling centers 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through Saturday, June 28.
- Orange County has multiple cooling centers at buildings including public libraries, the Homestead Aquatic Center and the Hillsborough Courthouse. Find a full list at orangecountync.gov/heat.
This story was originally published June 23, 2025 at 11:47 AM with the headline "The Triangle could see 100+ temps this week. When will the heat wave end?."
