More than 100,000 people are expected to be outdoors during this weekend's heatwave, when heat index temps could reach up to 107 degrees. If feels-like temperatures hit 105 degrees, the National Weather Service could issue a heat advisory this weekend. WRAL News has issued a WRAL Weather Alert Day because of scorching heat predicted for Sunday and Monday.
The summer event season is heating up with concerts and festivals in Triangle this weekend, but the event schedule isn't the only thing heating up, as temperatures are expected to hit the highest of the year so far.
So how are festivals and event-goers staying cool and safe in the heat?
Heat wave brings 'feels-like' temps of over 100 degrees this weekend; WRAL Weather Alert Days issued for Sunday, Monday
Stay cool: EMS preparing for higher call volumes due to heat-related illnesses
Wake County EMS will be at Out! Raleigh Pride to help with any issues people may have with the heat.
"We expect we will see some of our call volume with events going on," said Vikki Huffman, Wake County EMS commander of community outreach.
She says prevention is the best medicine.
To help keep shoppers and vendors cool, organizers say they are adding a "cool off zone."
"We'll have a little tent - all of our vendors will have their own tents but we're having our own little cool off tent," Young-Wright said. "We'll have a bunch of chairs for people to sit down in a tent in the shade. We'll have a table with some water, some sunscreen. We'll have the fans blowing."
The UV index will be quite high this weekend and into next week, so sunscreen is definitely being recommended for anyone who plans to be outdoors.
Live music ahead: 100+ big concerts in North Carolina
Another must - lots of water.
Duke's Dr. Anjni Joiner said it's important to drink water as a precaution, not just to stay cool in the moment.
"Hydrate before you're going to be active, before you go outside, and that will help protect your body as well from dehydration," Joiner said.
Joiner also recommends keeping an eye on more vulnerable populations including the very young and elderly, for any warning signs of heat stroke. Sweating a lot, getting very fatigued and not acting quite like their normal selves can be signs of a potential heat stroke.
Wear loose clothing, put on a hat and be sure to wear sunscreen. Above all else, hydrate.
If you feel any symptoms of heat-related illness, call 911 and try to find an air-conditioned place.
3 ways to avoid heat-related illness
Events happening this weekend
On Friday night, singer Cody Jinks will be on stage at Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh. At Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, the North Carolina Symphony will continue its Summerfest series with a performance of "Swan Lake."
Saturday will be busy in downtown Raleigh with the Out! Raleigh Pride Fest on Fayetteville Street from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event will include a children's zone, live music and vendors.
Also in downtown Raleigh on Saturday is the North Carolina Vintage Bazaar, which will be in Moore Square from noon to 5 p.m. The event was started by Garrett Young-Wright and Aaron Wan in 2001 and now features more than 40 vendors.
"We started off in the parking lot near Duke's campus and have really popped off since then, just been growing the event," Wan told WRAL on Wednesday. "It's really created a big community for this kind of stuff and for people to support more sustainable fashion."
The weekend concerts will wrap up on Sunday with Willie Nelson and his Outlaw Fest to Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh. The event will include performances from Nelson, Bob Dylan and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. The show starts at 5 p.m.
The high temperatures in the area are forecast to stay in the uncomfortable 90s for at least the next week.
A spokesperson with Coastal Credit Union Music Park provided WRAL News with a statement on the handling of hot weather and keeping fans safe.
Coastal Credit Union Music Park wants to help fans stay cool so they can enjoy the show. We already informed fans on the extra steps we’re taking for this week’s shows and throughout the summer. This includes allowing fans to bring empty, reusable water bottles into the venue which they can fill up all night long at our free hydration stations. The venue is also equipped with misting fans, multiple cooling stations and we have complimentary sunscreen available for fans.
