Extreme Heat Warning Issued for Central Virginia

TL;DR: An Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect for Chesterfield County through Saturday 8 PM EDT, with heat index values expected to reach 110 degrees or higher.

The story

The National Weather Service issued an Extreme Heat Warning for central and eastern Virginia including Chesterfield County, in effect through 8 PM EDT Saturday, July 5. Heat index values are expected to reach 110 degrees or greater Friday and Saturday, creating dangerously hot conditions that pose serious health risks to residents.

Forecasts for Chesterfield County show high temperatures near or above 100 degrees Friday, July 3, with the heat index breaking 110 at times throughout the day and remaining near or above 110 through early evening. Saturday conditions remain similarly dangerous with highs around 100 degrees and heat index values up to 110 degrees. Sunday temperatures are expected to decline slightly to near 99 degrees with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 PM.

The broader heat wave is expected to persist across Virginia from Wednesday through Sunday, with the most dangerous conditions occurring Thursday through Saturday. Statewide, Virginia has already recorded 1,194 emergency department visits for heat-related illness from May 1 through June 28, above the year-to-date average of 914 visits, according to Virginia Department of Health data.

Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events, particularly among vulnerable populations. The elderly, young children, outdoor workers, and individuals with chronic conditions including heart disease are at elevated risk because their bodies are less efficient at regulating temperature. People living in poverty face additional risk, as homes built with heat-trapping materials such as concrete amplify indoor temperatures.

To address immediate needs during the warning period, Chesterfield County is opening Meadowdale Library at 4301 Meadowdale Boulevard as a cooling center on Friday, July 3, Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5, from 11 AM to 6 PM. The county is also directing residents to splash pads at Beulah Recreation Center and River City Sportsplex, which operate daily from 9 AM to 7 PM, and encourages use of other air-conditioned public spaces such as movie theaters and shopping centers.

Health officials recommend residents stay hydrated, avoid beverages that cause dehydration, reduce strenuous outdoor activities during peak heat hours, and remain in air-conditioned spaces whenever possible. Residents should wear light, loose clothing and check regularly on elderly neighbors and vulnerable individuals. A critical danger exists inside parked vehicles, where temperatures can exceed 100 degrees within minutes even when outside temperatures are around 80 degrees.

Residents with income-eligible households can seek assistance with cooling costs through the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services Energy Assistance program, administered via CommonHelp online or by calling 804-748-1100 during business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM. For emergency management questions, residents may contact 804-748-1360.

Key players

• National Weather Service: Issued Extreme Heat Warning
• Chesterfield County Emergency Management: Coordinating county response and cooling centers
• Chesterfield County Department of Social Services: Administering energy assistance programs
• Virginia Department of Health: Providing health guidance and tracking heat-related illness

Key dates

• 2026-07-03: Cooling center opens at Meadowdale Library (11 AM-6 PM)
• 2026-07-04: Cooling center open at Meadowdale Library; Extreme Heat Warning continues
• 2026-07-05: Extreme Heat Warning ends 8 PM EDT; cooling center open (11 AM-6 PM)

Why it matters: Extreme heat poses immediate health threats to all county residents, particularly the elderly and medically vulnerable, with potential for heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and emergency department surges during the peak warning period.

Places

• Meadowdale Library
• Beulah Recreation Center
• River City Sportsplex
• Chesterfield County

Related links

• Chesterfield County Emergency Management
• Chesterfield Alert Emergency Notification System
• Energy Assistance Programs
• National Weather Service Extreme Heat Warning
• Virginia Department of Health Heat Safety Guidance

Read the original at NWS Weather Alerts →

Sources

• National Weather Service Extreme Heat Warning
• 12 On Your Side: Chesterfield Cooling Centers
• WTVR Richmond Weather Forecast
• Virginia Department of Health Heat Safety
• Chesterfield County Emergency Management
• WDBJ7 Heat-Related ER Visits in Virginia
• Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services