Extreme heat and a potential tropical storm for Hilton Head area. Here’s what to know

The Hilton Head area is heading into another stretch of dangerous heat, with heat indices forecast to climb as high as 110 through the weekend and into next week. Forecasters are also tracking a zone in the Gulf of Mexico that has a 20% chance of becoming Tropical Storm Bertha.

Here are the key takeaways:

Upcoming weather

• The National Weather Service is forecasting triple-digit heat indices across the Lowcountry through the weekend and into next week, with highs projected between 105 and 110 degrees.
• Heat index observations at the Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station hit 107 on Thursday, July 16, and the NWS’s Beaufort County forecast calls for a heat index of 109 Friday and Saturday before easing slightly to 107 Sunday and Monday.
• A zone stretching from the Florida Panhandle to the Lowcountry carries a 20% chance of tropical cyclone formation over the next seven days, and the system would be named Bertha if it develops.
• Lead Meteorologist Courtney Maskell of the National Weather Service in Charleston said chances of major threats to the Lowcountry are slim, and said, “I’m not seeing anything that’s screaming at me that this is something that anybody should be concerned about,” though she noted the system is a good reminder to stay prepared during hurricane season.

Heat safety

• Extreme heat kills more Americans each year than any other extreme weather event, including hurricanes, tornadoes and floods, and heat stroke can push body temperature to 106 degrees, requiring immediate medical attention.
• To stay safe, the CDC recommends staying hydrated, taking breaks in the shade, doing outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day and never leaving a child, disabled person or pet in a locked car — 31 children died in hot cars in 2025.
• Pets can also suffer heat stress, and owners should keep animals inside during the hottest parts of the day, provide plenty of water and avoid walking dogs on pavement, since concrete and asphalt can get hot enough to burn paws.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.