Happy Independence Day! The next few afternoons will be hotter than a firecracker as highs rise into the mid-to-upper 90s across the Piedmont and Foothills. Dew points in the 70s will allow for heat index values near 105° both today and Friday; make sure you’re staying hydrated and taking plenty of indoor breaks. We’ll come awfully close to triple-digit temperatures on Friday ahead of a cold front that arrives by the evening. While our Fourth of July festivities remain dry, afternoon scattered showers and storms can be expected Friday through Sunday. The incoming front will cool the Carolinas down slightly this weekend, as highs will dip into the upper 80s and lower 90s around the Metro by Sunday. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to count on any noticeable drop in humidity over the coming days. Expect highs to return to the mid-90s by midweek next week. A classic summertime pattern takes hold by the same timeframe – hot and humid days with afternoon pop-up storms. Widespread significant rain is not in the forecast over the next seven days, but those who get in on a storm will see brief torrential rainfall. Beryl has weakened significantly after making a close approach to Jamaica on Wednesday, but remains a powerful Category 3 hurricane with winds approaching 125 mph. Beryl will continue to barrel westward over the coming days, likely making landfall over Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula by Friday morning. Medium-range model guidance suggest Beryl will make a more northwesterly turn as it emerges over the Gulf of Mexico before making another landfall close to the Mexico-Texas border by the start of the next workweek. Independence Day: Mostly sunny. Hot and humid. High: 96°. Wind: SW 5-10. Tonight: Variable clouds. Mild and muggy. Low: 77°. Wind: Light. Friday: Hot, humid, and stormy. High: 98°. Wind: SW 5-10. Friday Night: A few storms early, then partly cloudy. Low: 77°. Wind: SW 5-10. Saturday: Mostly sunny with a few PM storms. High: 94°. Wind: SW 5-10.