Record heat likely in Richmond on Labor Day

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - A heat wave is expected to close out the last unofficial weekend of summer, with record heat likely in Richmond on Labor Day.

It reached the mid-90s on Sunday, and it turns even hotter on Monday. On Labor Day, our forecast high is 98°, which would break the record of 95° for September 4 set back in 1970.

RIC will likely have the hottest daytime highs of the area today as the airport has only had 1/3″ rain since August 11. Dry soil allows for the temperature to skyrocket on sunny days.

Temperatures are expected to get even hotter on Tuesday as we go back to work and school. The forecast high Tuesday is 99°, but that would come up a degree shy of the record of 100° for September 5, set back in 1954.

Humidity won’t be as bad as it was earlier this summer, but it will get more humid on Monday and Tuesday. The humidity on top of the heat will make it feel like it is near 100° for a heat index (feels-like temperature). It is expected to stay unseasonably hot on Wednesday with a forecast high of 99° again. Thursday we will also see high temperatures climbing into the mid to upper 90s with a forecast high of 97°.

It will become less hot on Friday and Saturday, but still above average for this time of year with highs in the low 90s.

Be sure to drink plenty of water as you enjoy Labor Day, and seek out air conditioning if you find yourself getting too hot early this week.

For updates on this early September heat wave, download the NBC12 First Alert Weather app. You can find the app in the Apple Store and on Google Play.

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