Heat advisory in place as Columbia, Midlands face dangerously high heat
Dangerously high temperatures are coming to the Midlands.
The triple digit heat index on Friday is expected to worsen through the weekend and into next week. The National Weather Service has put a heat advisory in place from 11 a.m. through 9 p.m. Saturday, July 26. The heat index is predicted to reach as high as 109 °F. Hot weather will continue into Sunday with a high of 103 °F and an overnight low of 81 °F.
While the weather service predicts a chance of rain or thunderstorms most afternoons beginning Monday, high temperatures will continue through next Thursday, with daily highs hitting near or above 100 °F.
The impacted areas in the Midlands include Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, Sumter, Newberry, Saluda and Orangeburg counties. But the high heat will stretch further north into North Carolina and west towards Georgia, including Aiken and Augusta.
Temperatures overnight are expected to fall to the high 70s or low 80s.
Weather service urges precautions
The National Weather Service is urging residents to take precautions, including drinking plenty of fluids, staying in air-conditioned spaces and avoiding the sun when possible. People should also check on relatives and neighbors, especially those most vulnerable to heat.
Residents are warned never to leave children or pets unattended in vehicles, as interior temperatures can quickly become fatal.
When outdoors, residents should wear lightweight, loose clothing, limit strenuous activities to the early morning or evening, and be alert to signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.