NWS Issues Extreme Heat Alerts for Portions of the Carolinas
The National Weather Service in Wilmington, North Carolina, has issued extreme heat alerts for portions of southeast North Carolina and northeast South Carolina. Heat index values are expected to reach up to 114 degrees.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Wilmington, NC, issued an Extreme Heat Watch and Warning at 2:22 AM EDT on August 17. The Extreme Heat Warning runs from 11:00 AM EDT to 8:00 PM EDT on August 18, while the Extreme Heat Watch is active from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening.
The affected regions cover portions of southeast North Carolina and northeast South Carolina. In North Carolina, the areas include Bladen, Columbus, Inland Pender, Coastal Pender, Inland New Hanover, Coastal New Hanover, Inland Brunswick, and Coastal Brunswick. South Carolina areas include Florence, Marion, Williamsburg, Coastal Horry, Inland Georgetown, Coastal Georgetown, Central Horry, and Northern Horry.
High humidity combined with elevated temperatures will produce heat index values up to 114 degrees. According to the NWS, heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events.