![\"North](\"http:\/\/us.weatheramerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/North-Carolina-2607.jpg\")
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Central North Carolina<\/strong> is facing its fourth brutal heat wave<\/strong> this summer, with temperatures climbing dangerously close to record highs<\/strong>. The National Weather Service<\/strong> has issued an extreme heat warning<\/strong> across the region as conditions continue to intensify.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By Friday morning<\/strong>, thermometers<\/strong> in several areas are expected to hit 98\u00b0F (37\u00b0C)<\/strong>, with a heat index<\/strong> soaring well beyond 105\u00b0F (40.5\u00b0C)<\/strong> due to relentless humidity levels<\/strong>. For families in places like Forest Hills<\/strong>, the answer is simple: head to the pool<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “We\u2019ve been down here all week because it\u2019s just been a scorcher,” said Wilbert Smith<\/strong>, who\u2019s been bringing his grandkids<\/strong> and nephew<\/strong> to the Forest Hills pool<\/strong>. “They\u2019ve been cool, they\u2019re happy. That\u2019s what matters.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For 10-year-old Mark Melton<\/strong>, the water isn’t just refreshing\u2014it\u2019s a way to connect. \u201cSeeing people again, making new friends… it could be a new friend for life or just a day,\u201d he said, smiling as he climbed out of the water.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the shaded corners<\/strong> of the pool, a group of teachers<\/strong> sat sipping water, towels wrapped around shoulders, sharing a few laughs after a swim. \u201cIt\u2019s been real hot, and I\u2019m just glad to be out here with some lovely teacher friends,\u201d said Natalie Kolosieke<\/strong>. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be careful how long you stay out in the sun.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to health experts<\/strong>, heat is a silent killer<\/strong>, and early signs of heat exhaustion<\/strong> shouldn\u2019t be ignored. Symptoms may include muscle cramps<\/strong>, headache<\/strong>, heavy sweating<\/strong>, irritability<\/strong>, confusion<\/strong>, vomiting<\/strong>, or dizziness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOnce someone becomes disoriented<\/strong>, vomits<\/strong>, or loses consciousness<\/strong>, that\u2019s heat stroke,\u201d warned Dr. Ashley Ward<\/strong>, director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub<\/strong> at Duke University<\/strong>. \u201cOur heat seasons now are far more dangerous<\/strong> than in the past. It\u2019s not just the temperature\u2014it\u2019s the humidity<\/strong>. When the air\u2019s already full of moisture, your body can\u2019t cool itself. Sweat can\u2019t evaporate<\/strong> the way it needs to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dr. Ward<\/strong> recommends air conditioning<\/strong>, hydration<\/strong>, cold showers<\/strong>, foot baths<\/strong>, and wet cloths<\/strong> as effective ways to beat the heat. And of course, if there\u2019s a neighborhood pool like the one in Forest Hills<\/strong>, it might just be the best place to be.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Central North Carolina is facing its fourth brutal heat wave this summer, with temperatures climbing dangerously close to record highs. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning across the region as conditions continue to intensify. By Friday morning, thermometers in several areas are expected to hit 98\u00b0F (37\u00b0C), with a heat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":6474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n