Excessive heat will affect most of Virginia

As expected, the Excessive Heat Watch has been expanded farther into central Virginia, and for a longer time-frame. The Watch now covers most of central, west-central, southeast, and northern Virginia from Thursday through Saturday, when the combination of higher air temperatures and rising humidity levels will lead to common heat index values of 105-110 degrees (in the shade).

We are just one state of many in the nation to be affected by this large upper-level ridge bringing dangerous heat and humidity. Here's a map of every state under some form of Excessive Heat Warning (pink), Excessive Heat Watch (dark red), or Heat Advisory (orange) as of Wednesday morning:

Although we will come close to record high temperatures Friday and Saturday (we are forecasting highs around 100 degrees), it's the record warm low temperatures that are in real danger of falling. This Wednesday morning, we've already cooled below that record warm low temperature for this date (July 20th), so we won't break that record. But the rest of the week, overnight low temperatures will be very close to the records:

You may recall that last week we set our all-time record warmest low temperature in Richmond at 81 degrees on July 12, 2011.
--Meteorologist Carrie Rose (Click "Like" here to join the weather conversation on my Facebook page).
Stay with CBS6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm!

Excessive Heat Watch is in effect for Thursday

In anticipation of the dangerous combination of high heat and humidity at the end of this week from a broadening high pressure ridge, an Excessive Heat Watch is in effect for Thursday's expected heat indices (in the shade) of 105-110 degrees. This watch may be expanded into more of central Virginia, but here's the map of affected counties and cities for now:

Heat indices by Friday could be as high as 115 degrees in central Virginia, including the Richmond Metro, and won't return below 100 until next week. Click here to learn more about the Heat Index and how to stay safe through this weekend with the approaching dangerous heat wave. Stay with CBS 6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm!
--Meteorologist Carrie Rose

Severe storms are possible Tuesday

In a hot, humid, unstable air-mass this afternoon and evening, scattered strong to severe storms are possible in Virginia, aided by a surface cool front to our north and a wind shift this afternoon from the northwest. Storms should initiate (develop) around 1-2PM in western Virginia, and track southeast into the rest of central Virginia this afternoon and evening.
Not everyone will get storms, but those of you who do can expect heavy downpours, frequent lightning, gusty winds, and some hail. The severe thunderstorms will be capable of damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 mph and hail larger than an inch in diameter.

We'll be closely monitoring the severe threat this afternoon. If you're on Facebook, be sure to "Like" our Facebook pages for updates (click here for Chief Meteorologist Zach Daniel, click here for Meteorologist Carrie Rose, and click here for the CBS 6 Storm Team Page). Stay with CBS 6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm!