Here's what you need to know today.

When you think of a tropical storm or hurricane dangers, you think of high winds, heavy rain and storm surge. One risk you may not think of is rip currents. Storms can cause rip currents when they are well off the coast.

Your Weather Planner

An incoming cold front will bring the chance of some swaths of showers and storms today into early this evening. Some storms could be severe, and damaging wind will be the primary severe weather threat.

Behind the cold front, some drier and slightly cooler air will spill in tonight. That will set up our Friday as the nicest day over the course of the next week. 

Heat and humidity will begin to quickly build in over the weekend with highs well into the 90s by Sunday in most non-high elevation locations. As the humidity builds along with the temperatures, many areas will see heat index values exceeding 100 next week, potentially as soon as Sunday afternoon.

Heat will be the primary weather story for next week.

Get the full forecast of areas around the state:
Charlotte | Triad | Triangle | Coastal | Mountains


Watch the latest local news and get your Weather on the 1s.

Around North Carolina

1. N.C.'s first Medicaid expansion recipient worries about changes in 'big, beautiful bill'

The sweeping Republican tax and spending bill moving through Congress would have major impacts on the Medicaid program. According to an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, millions of Americans would lose their health insurance. That includes North Carolina, which expanded Medicaid in December 2023.

2. Asheville Academy faces $45,000 in fines after state investigation into child safety violations

State health officials say Asheville Academy violated laws meant to protect children in residential mental health facilities after an investigation that concluded this month. The Weaverville-based school is accused of failing to provide adequate staff supervision, violating client rights and not protecting children from potential abuse.

3. Family-run Shelby restaurant joins N.C. Barbecue Hall of Fame

For 79 years, Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge in Shelby has been serving up delicious plates and family recipes. And now, it can add Hall of Fame-worthy to the recipe description. “We just got inducted into the North Carolina Barbecue Hall of Fame,” co-owner Natalie Ramsey said. “And so we are just absolutely thrilled.” The honor was good news for the restaurant as it recovers from a devastating fire in the pit room in October.

Around The Nation

1. Heat dome will blanket much of the U.S., with worrisome temperatures in Midwest

2. 'Nobody knows what I’m going to do': Trump leaves door open for U.S. strikes on Iran, says Tehran has reached out

3. FDA approves the world's only twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV

The Boonerang arts festival returns to Boone this week, and more than 10,000 people are expected to attend the event. Businesses are gearing up for the biggest weekend since Hurricane Helene.