Air you can wear: why Raleigh will feel like July in mid‑May

If you stepped outside Friday morning and felt like you’d walked into a steam bath, you’re not alone. Dew points in Raleigh reached 68 °F at dawn and are forecast to climb into the low 70s Friday night into Saturday, a level more typical of midsummer than mid‑May.

Meteorologist Shel Winkley, Climate Central’s weather‑and‑climate engagement specialist, says that sticky air carries a clear climate fingerprint.

“We’re seeing a stronger climate signal in the morning than the afternoon,” Winkley said. “Warmer global temperatures are turning the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico into moisture factories, and that extra water vapor is getting ‘plopped’ right on North Carolina’s doorstep.”

Nights no longer cool us down

Climate Central’s tools show that summer nights across the Triangle now run about 4 °F warmer than they did in the 1970s, and nighttime temperatures are warming twice as fast as daytime highs.

“Your body needs those cooler hours to recover,” Winkley said. “When rooms stay in the 70s all night, the heat stacks up and health risks climb… especially for kids, older adults and anyone without strong air‑conditioning.”

More extreme‑heat days — and they’re stickier

Winkley notes that what counts as an “extreme” high in central North Carolina — 91 °F, the local 95th‑percentile mark — used to happen about 10 days a year. “Now it’s closer to 50,” he said.

When humidity is factored in, the region has added roughly 10 extra days each year with a heat index above 80 °F.

Those trends mirror Climate Central’s “Humid Heat: Hidden but Hazardous” study, which found that summer “equivalent temperature,” a metric that blends heat and humidity, has risen three times faster than air temperature alone since 1950.

Why high dew points are dangerous

“Think of a 70‑degree dew point as jumping into a pool that’s the same temperature as the air,” Winkley explained. “Sweat can’t evaporate, so your body’s cooling system stalls.” The result: a higher risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration and, in severe cases, heat stroke.

Storm fuel on standby

All that moisture is also “rocket fuel for thunderstorms,” Winkley cautioned. A warmer atmosphere can hold roughly 4% more water vapor for every 1 °F of warming, meaning storms that do form can dump rain faster and trigger flash flooding.

Looking ahead

If carbon emissions continue on today’s trajectory, climate models project the Triangle and Sandhills to keep tacking on more “oppressive” humid‑heat days each decade. “The trend is up, that’s physics. Cutting carbon pollution is the only way to bend it back down,” he said.

Dr. Daniel Park with UNC Hospitals shared the following tips to protect your family from dangerous heat:

• Pre-hydrate. Even before you go outdoors, try to drink a glass or water or other non-caffeinated drinks with high electrolytes like Gatorade.
• Hydrate more. Now keep on hydrating throughout the day! Your body is losing a lot of electrolytes and fluid while you sweat.
• Look out for signs of heat-related illness, such as headaches, dizziness, pale skin, elevated heart rate, confusion.
• Don’t leave kids or pets alone in cars. Even if the window is cracked, it’s just not safe to leave kids or pets alone in a parked car, where the temperatures can increase rapidly.
• When you call 911. If your child gets overheated and doesn’t respond to rapid cooling measures like a cold rag or putting them in front of a fan, it’s time to call 911.
• Stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
• Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
• Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat and take frequent breaks.

As the days begin to get hotter, you will want to plan a visit to one of the best (and free) splashpads in the area or cool from the inside out with some of the best local ice cream.

And don’t forget to take care of your skin and apply that sunscreen! 5 On Your Side found some of the most effective sunscreens that will provide the most protection.