2017's hottest day so far results in evening storms

The hot weather, with heat indexes that made things feel even steamier, prompted heat advisories around the region for the second day in a row.

The advisory from the National Weather Service began at 11 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m. Temperatures for counties under advisory will mostly reach into the mid-90s with a heat index of 100 degrees or higher. High temperatures will continue into the weekend.

The heat index on Thursday afternoon climbed to 105 degrees in Raleigh and 107 degrees in Fayetteville.

The high temperatures lead to an increased chance of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include feeling faint or dizzy and experiencing cramps. Symptoms of heat stroke, which is more serious and requires immediate medical attention, include headache, absence of sweat and a high body temperature.

"In this kind of heat, it's hard for the body to cool down," said WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze. "It's important that you don't stress yourself too much if you're working or playing outside."

Since noon Wednesday, WakeMed said they've seen eight patients with heat-related illnesses.

Dr. Olly Duckett said the most common heat-related seen is mild dehydration, which usually comes after people spend too much time outside in the heat.

He said symptoms of dehydration include light headedness, rapid heart rate and feeling faint.

Duckett said everybody is at risk, but children and the elderly are especially susceptible to high temperatures.

"Especially the very old. People with pre-existing conditions can't take care of themselves as well as other people," he said.

A line of storms could move into the central part of the state in the afternoon. A couple of stray showers and thunderstorms could make it into the Triangle around the evening commute.

"Once we lose the heating of the day, they'll go away," Maze said.

Temperatures will linger in the mid- and low-90s through at least the middle of next week.

"Those head indexes will be in the 100s by lunchtime tomorrow and I think we'll have another heat advisory," Maze said.

The hot temperatures aren't just having an effect on people, but plants as well.

Gail Ingram with Logan's One Stop Garden Shop said watering plants early in the morning is best to keep them healthy in the heat, because that gives the water time to be absorbed throughout the day.

It's possible to over water plants, so Ingram says it's important to check soil beforehand.

"Even though we walk outside and we're hot and we're sweaty, the plants may not be dry. The best thing you can do is get your fingers down into the soil a little bit to check to see if it really is truly dry and then water and water so that it soaks deep enough to get the root ball," she said.