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Dangerous heat arrives Wednesday. Prepare for heat index values around 105 with high temperatures in the mid-90s.

Forecast: Heat index of 105 Wednesday, storm chances Thursday

I'm meteorologist Kat Campbell. Two big weather stories to talk about this week. Number one, the heat. We're going to be dealing with this pretty much every single day. 95 Thursday with a heat index to over 100, we see a little bit of a dip Friday and Saturday behind our front, and then the bigger heat returns by the end of the weekend and early next week, Sunday 97 with the heat index nearing 105, and by Monday and Tuesday of next week we're. going to see some heat advisories issued. The actual highs should be in the upper 90s. We will get a break from storm chances though. There's one exception to this, and that will come on Thursday, primarily during the evening hours tomorrow. Then we finally have a dry weekend, just a really hot weekend. So let's talk about our storm threat. We've got a cold front approaching from the west. This is going to provide the focus for these thunderstorms to form and out ahead of these storms we've got a A lot of heat and humidity to energize the atmosphere because of that, there is a level 2 out of 5 severe weather threat for Thursday. That means it's automatically a WRL weather alert day for us. The timing right now looks to be 5 to 11 p.m. It's a level 2 threat and damaging wind gusts would be the primary threat. I'm waiting on a brand new model run to come in right now, and I'll have a closer look at that so we get a better feel for the timing town by town coming up on WRAL news this evening.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Heat risk from Wednesday through next Tuesday

Teen missing for a year was living with man in High Point

Joseph Rossomando

'Shrimpgate': New bill to protect waterways would 'destroy' shrimp industry in North Carolina, critics warn

Shrimp trawler

Pride flags stolen in Cary neighborhood days ahead of Raleigh Pride celebration

Pride flag

Cellphone crackdown: New policies going into effect in districts across NC

Enloe Magnet High School student uses cellphone for coursework

R. Kelly rushed to Duke University Hospital after alleged prison overdose in Butner

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The Fed holds interest rates steady again as officials wait for the effects of Trump's tariffs

Fed Expected to Keep Rates Steady

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Sanford woman Candace Waddell said she's dealing with a washed-out yard that's threatening the foundation of her home days after intense rainfall hit the area. 

Sanford woman fears home damage as rushing waters worsen flood aftermath

Flooding in Sanford

During Wednesday night's Live After 5 concert in downtown Raleigh, Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell will officially turn on North Carolina's Main Street Lights on Fayetteville Street.


Main Street Lights to illuminate Fayetteville Street during Live After 5

Live After 5 lineup

WASHINGTON (AP) â The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dipped to 245,000 last week, hovering at historically low levels, the Labor Department said Wednesday.

US unemployment ticked down, hovering at historically low levels

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) â Iran's supreme leader on Wednesday rejected U.S. calls for surrender in the face of more Israeli strikes and warned that any military involvement by the Americans would cause âirreparable damage to them."

Iran's leader rejects call to surrender, saying US intervention would cause 'irreparable damage'

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A tractor trailer overturned near Exit 107 on northbound I-95 in Johnston County, leading to a prolonged road closure.


Driver charged with DWI after tractor-trailer carrying blackberries overturns on I-95

Cleanup after trailer overturned on i-95

WASHINGTON (AP) â The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, a jolting setback to transgender rights.

Supreme Court OKs Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for kids, a setback for transgender rights

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According to the Fayetteville Police Department, the man, 43-year-old Randy Lane Locklear, kicked out the window of a marked police car and escaped on Arsenal Avenue.

Man who kicked out police car window to escape back in custody, Fayetteville officers say

Randy Lane Locklear

Fireflies are dying, and a recent study found that we may be the last generation to see them light-up in certain areas.


Where are the fireflies?

Where are the fireflies? The population declining

The heat index is not just some made-up number. It's all about how our bodies react to heat with the presence of higher humidity.

Ask the Meteorologist: Why do we use the heat index so often in the summer months?

Ask the Meteorologist: Why meteorologists use the heat index in the summer months

More than a month after a convenience store clerk was shot and killed in a robbery, federal authorities are asking for help identifying a suspect.

Have you seen them? ATF searching for suspect in deadly Sanford convenience store shooting

Suspected shooter in deadly armed robbery on May 3 in Sanford

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There's heat, and there's big-league heat. That's what we're tracking much of the next one-to-two weeks.

First 100Â° day of the year possible next week in Triangle, Sandhills

Heat dome to create hottest weather of the year so far

If you're planning to spend a lot of time outside in the heat, such as for a sporting event or a day at a theme park, it's important to stay hydrated. 

7 tips to stay hydrated outdoors

Feeling thirsty? Summer heat accelerates dehydration

Summer programs and camps are still available at a variety of places in Raleigh, Durham and the surrounding areas.


Still need a summer camp? Some camps in Raleigh, Durham still have openings

children playing in forest

The National Weather Service offers these tips to keep healthy during extreme heat.

Too hot! Here's how to stay safe, stay cool as temperatures reach near 100 degrees

Heat, hot temperatures

June is officially Pride month and we have your guide to the events happening in the Triangle! 

Your 2025 guide to Pride in the Triangle

Rainbow flag waving outdoors (Adobe Stock)

With over 1.3 million Americans falling ill from salmonella annually, the safety of poultry remains a pressing concern. Consumer Reports highlights alarming findings, revealing salmonella in nearly one-third of tested ground chicken, emphasizing gaps in federal oversight.


5 On Your Side: How to prevent food poisoning after USDA backs down on salmonella rules

Generic, stock photo of raw chicken

Don't Miss It

Our Pets of the Day are a bonded pair from Cat Angels Pet Adoptions. Meet Molly and Rusty! Molly has a calm, affectionate nature. Rusty has a charming personality and warms up quickly to new people.

Pet of the Day for June 18, 2025

More than 2,800 Nintendo Switch 2 consoles stolen at Colorado truck stop

Nintendo Switch 2 consoles stolen

Employees are trying to find work-life balance with 'summertime sneaking'

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Amusement parks adapt to save money amid tariff troubles

Businesses make changes as push to ban artificial dyes in food gains momentum

Keep your children cool and healthy during intense heatwaves at camp

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Man charged with setting Durham grocery store on fire, also charged with setting two cars ablaze

Local News

Interim to permanent: Wake Forest has new police chief

First-ever woman elected as RDU Airport Authority Board Chair

Durham EMS honors heroic paramedic with memorial walk at Duke

Girl injured after rare alligator encounter at Lake Waccamaw, recovering with stitches

Karen Read found not guilty of second-degree murder, guilty of drunken driving in boyfriend's death

Nation/World

Hurricane Erick strengthens to a Category 2 storm as it nears Mexico's Pacific coast

Kyiv rescuers find more bodies as death toll from latest Russian aerial attack climbs to 28

Trump will sign an order extending deadline for TikTok's Chinese owner to sell app

Threats to lawmakers are on the rise, security officials tell senators after Minnesota shootings

The Wake County Board of Commissioners has approved the schematic design for Lake Myra County Park, a 218-acre park site in Wendell that has been in the works since 2007.


Nearly 20 years after purchasing the land, Wake County approves design for Lake Myra County Park

Lake Myra County Park phase one design (Wake County Parks and Recreation)

Marbles Kids Museum, Moore Square to host Juneteenth celebration

Juneteenth event at Marbles

Weekend best bets: Juneteenth events, Out! Raleigh

A guide to what the Juneteenth holiday is and how to celebrate it

Juneteenth_Explainer_57316

100+ events to check out in NC this June

June events list graphic

Free, discounted summer family movies in the Triangle

Free or discounted summer movies in Triangle

Out & About

Fact check: Could Trump delay elections if Congress passes the 'big beautiful bill'?

Politifact

Fact check: Are 20% of Medicaid payments 'improper'?

Fact-checking misinformation about the LA protests

Military bases' new names sound as if they're named after Confederates, but that's not the case

Fact check: Trump says immigrants in U.S. illegally have different due process standards

Helene relief funding to move forward despite budget impasse

NC Capitol

Von Haefen apologizes to NC lawmakers for social media image depicting 'inappropriate' protest sign 

NC lawmakers approve bill shifting regulatory powers from governor to legislature 

State lawmakers moving quickly on bill to regulate THC, Delta 9 products

Bottle rockets in NC? Bill to allow more fireworks fizzles in legislative committee

Johnston County School Board selects new superintendent

Education

Johnston County schools' new policy restricts cellphone use for teachers and students during class 

Meet the season 29 Brain Game champions for 2024-2025

Brain Game championship: Raleigh Charter High School vs. Lee Early College

Families encouraged to arrive early for graduation ceremonies

Supersonic flights coming to Greensboro as part of new JetZero facility in Greensboro

WRAL In Depth

4 million gallons of drinking water are lost every day in Durham. What's being done to fix that

Local man's vital knee surgery denied until 5 On Your Side got involved

5 On Your Side solves mystery of money transfer that failed

5 On Your Side: Appealing denied insurance claims easier than you think

'A well-oiled machine': How the Florida Panthers' team-first mentality led to another Stanley Cup

WRALSportsFan

Durham Bulls beat Omaha Storm Chasers 7-1 

NCAA men's basketball in Raleigh generated $16.4M in economic impact this year

Haliburton's status is a great unknown for Pacers going into Game 6 of NBA Finals

Hurricanes Aho, Andersen named to 2026 Olympic rosters

Le'Ezra Brown & Adelaide Jernigan named NCHSAA Athletes of the Year for 2024-2025

HighSchoolOT

The 2025 HighSchoolOT All-State Girls Outdoor Track & Field Team

Girls basketball: Ten takeaways from NCHSAA and NCISAA live camps

The 2025 HighSchoolOT All-State Boys Outdoor Track & Field Team

Twelve current and former NC high school baseball players invited to MLB Draft Combine

The North Carolina Senate wants to ban some hemp products and prohibit the sale of certain THC drinks and gummies to anyone younger than the age of 21 -- a proposal that could set up a fight with the House, which passed a more limited measure earlier in the legislative session.

NC bill seeks ban on synthetic hemp, new regulations on Delta 9 and THC products

Congress may add a yearly federal fee, $100 for hybrids and $250 for electric vehicles, with some senators pushing to double it. The charge would stack on state fees and could erase the fuel savings that attract many buyers.

Congress targets EVs with yearly charge on top of state fees

A file photo of electric vehicles charging.

Congress debates clear-car fee

The lawmakers targeted in the Minnesota attacks had no security detail. That's true for most state lawmakers around the country, including in North Carolina. 

Minnesota shootings highlight lack of security for NC lawmakers

Reaching a company's customer service can be very difficult, especially if the company does not list a phone number. Businesses are now warning customers about a new surge in fake customer service links to keep you from wasting your money. 

Amazon fake customer service warning

Cat slippers, sewing videos and sad music are part of the latest social media scam. They're being used to persuade people to support fake causes. WRAL's 5 On Your Side has the latest TikTok scam tugging at your heart-strings - trying to convince you to buy into fake causes. 

Misleading TikTok videos are tricking people into supporting fake causes

WRAL Specialists

5 On Your Side: How to find the best high chair

Tailor's image hijacked, used for viral TikTok scam

Restaurant Ratings: Luna Azul Tacos & Mariscos, Taqueria El Refugio and Thai 55

5 On Your Side

How Raleigh police officer handled searches compromised cases, report shows

Lawmakers considering restrictions on agritourism to rein in rowdy parties

Legislators considering law change after WRAL Investigates' reporting on farm parties

Wake County facing rise in fire truck costs

Investigations

Guest column: AI and CareTech are transforming how we care for aging parents

Grace Ueng: Why I teach teams to âdo something scary every dayâ

Tom Snyder: The fragile trust behind powerful technologies

Donald Thompson: Employees' money problems are costing you more than you think

WRAL TechWire

Toy company challenges Trumpâs tariffs before the Supreme Court in long shot bid for quick decision

Student loan payments have restarted. Here's how to manage the impact to your credit score

Amazon hopes to deliver 10,000 robotaxis annually with new factory, challenging Waymo

Average long-term US mortgage rate eases to 6.81%, the third consecutive weekly decline

Business

Powerball

Mega Millions

Cash 5

Alzheimer's caregiver: Summer camp, healing and compassion

Family

Go Ask Dad: A note on fathers

A father's poor mental health may harm his children's development, study finds

 Raleigh Stroller Society: How fathers are strengthening their network

For the dads: Raleigh Stroller Society unites fathers, fosters connection and growth

Top Amazon Deals: Hanes Men's Polo Shirt 2 Pk only $7.51 (71% off) plus Wireless Computer Mouse, Meat Shredding Claws, Men's Cargo Shorts, Dog Fetch Stick

SmartShopper

New Swagbucks Swag Code valid from 3-5 pm ET on June 18