Asheville might see record-breaking high temps this week: National Weather Service
ASHEVILLE - If it's feeling abnormally sticky and hot during this last stretch of summer in the Western North Carolina mountains, that's because it is.
Temperatures in Asheville are forecast to reach upward of 90 degrees this week, and could even hit records. If Aug. 25 hits 93 degrees, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Doug Outlaw, this would surpass the previous record high for that date of 92 degrees set on Aug. 25, 1936.
The hottest days this week were expected to be Aug. 22 and Aug. 25, which might both reach highs of 93 degrees, Outlaw said.
At the end of July, Asheville also saw high temps in the low 90s, Outlaw said. Average high temps in July are typically about 85 degrees.
He told the Citizen Times Aug. 21 that these temperatures are "pretty hot" for this time of the year, which is feeling hotter due to the heat index.
The heat index, which is what the temperature feels like when combined with the humidity, is expected to reach 95 degrees on Aug. 22, Outlaw said. The humidity is forecasted to be between 45%-50% for Aug. 21.
The high temperatures forecast for this week are 9 degrees above the normal average temperature for August, which sits around 84 degrees.
Outlaw said there were no 90-degree days last year in August. The hottest it got was 88 degrees on Aug. 2, 2022.
As the week progresses the humidity is expected to increase to the 50% range, which will contribute to the high heat index expected later in the week, Outlaw said. As of Aug. 21 there are no air quality alerts in Asheville, but this could change due to the hot temperatures.
The hot weather combined with little air movement contributes to "ground-level ozone levels becoming elevated," which would cause air quality alerts, warning people with health conditions to limit their time outdoors, Outlaw said.
Aug. 23 and 24 won't be much cooler, with a forecast of 89 degrees and 88 degrees respectively.
The Asheville and Hendersonville areas could see a slight chance of rain on Aug. 24 and again on Aug. 25.
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Outlaw said the real chance of rain will be this weekend rising to a 30% chance on Aug. 26. A cold front is coming down from Virginia on Aug. 26 and 27, making Sunday, Aug. 27, around 9-10 degrees cooler than Aug. 25.
While dry weather will continue over the next few days, Outlaw said there is no fire danger at this time. Asheville has received 25.97 inches of rain so far this year, when it normally receives around 32 inches, creating a 6-inch deficit so far this year.
How to keep cool
It's important to take proper precautions as extreme heat can be dangerous. The Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services has a number of steps to follow in order to remain safe and stay cool:
Wear lightweight clothes, hats and sunscreen.
Limit outdoor activity/reduce any outdoor exercise that's in the heat.
Don't leave children or pets inside cars.
Drink lots of water and low-sugar drinks.
Be informed about the weather by checking apps and knowing the symptoms of heat-related illnesses such as: headache, nausea, confusion, fast and strong pulse, hot, red, dry or damp skin and a high body temperature.
The County Health Department says that older adults, infants, pets and people with chronic medical conditions are at a higher risk.
This story has been updated to reflect the year the record high temperature for Aug. 25 was established.
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McKenna Leavens is the education reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at mleavens@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter @LeavensMcKennna. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: High temps in Asheville this week could set records
