It’s another warm and sticky night across the region, with temperatures only slipping into the lower 70s by daybreak. A few clouds will drift overhead, but all in all we’ll stay rain free. The real change arrives Wednesday as a large area of high pressure strengthens over the Southeast. Th at weather pattern acts like a lid on the atmosphere, allowing temperatures to climb even higher. Many locations will reach the upper 90s, with little relief from the sunshine. Outside of a few storms over the mountains, rain will be hard to come by. From Thursday through the Independence Day weekend, dangerous heat becomes the headline. Afternoon temperatures across the Piedmont will push toward 100 degrees each day, while mountain communities climb into the 90s. Even if the air feels a little less humid during the hottest part of the afternoon, the combination of heat and moisture will still create conditions that can quickly lead to heat-related illness. At times, it could feel as hot as 105 degrees. Storm chances remain very limited through the end of the week. Most of the activity will stay confined to the mountains, and only a few isolated storms may drift into nearby foothill communities before fading.  Keep a bottle of water nearby, schedule outdoor work for the morning or evening, wear lightweight clothing, and find air conditioning or shade often. The hottest part of the day will be between lunchtime and early evening. There are signs that the weather pattern may finally begin to shift later in the holiday weekend. That could open the door for a few more afternoon thunderstorms and, eventually, a slight break from the relentless heat, by Monday. Stay tuned!   ...read more read less