Potentially record high temperatures for this time of year are expected to move into the area today, pushing the mercury toward the 100-degree mark, according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service (NWS) in Greer.

A large upper level ridge of air with a high pressure system in tow is expected to meander slowly through the region in coming days, causing temperatures to jump to miserable levels.

“When you get a weather system this large and it’s preventing any cooler air to move into an area, the result is a rise in temperatures like we’re going to see over the next few days,” said NWS Meteorologist Scott Krentz. “With such a stagnant weather pattern, we are going to see clear skies and a lot of sunshine with this area staying particularly dry.”

Heat advisories were issued during the course of the past few days in cities like New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., with each city being forced to endure temperatures above the 100-degree mark as a result of the weather system expected to unleash its fury upon the Carolinas and other portions of the Southeast beginning today.

Though the heat is not expected to push to the life-threatening levels similar to that felt by residents of the Northeast, the record books are expected to be pushed to the limit, Krentz said.

Meteorologists have predicted highs of 99 degrees for Wednesday and Thursday, each of which would fall short of the July 7 mark of 100-degrees in 1993 and the 101 degrees recorded July 8, 1986.

At the moment, no heat advisories have been issued for the area, though residents of highly populated municipalities like Charlotte and Asheville in North Carolina have been alerted about dangerous air quality levels over the course of the next few days.

Typically, the NWS does not issue advisories until heat index readings hit the 105-degree mark, with heat warnings requiring an index reading of 110-degrees and higher.

Excessive heat is the top weather-related cause of death in America. When the heat index surpasses the 100-degree mark, people are at an increased risk of heat stroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion.

“It could become rather dangerous for those later this week, particularly for the elderly, infants and young kids, as well as those without the service of air conditioning,” Krentz said. “They are the ones more susceptible to these high temperatures.”

Approximately 175 people die each summer from heat-related illnesses.

The sweltering temperatures have opened the discussion of another topic around the state — drought.

About two-thirds of the Palmetto State — an area extending from Spartanburg to Orangeburg counties — was listed as

abnormally dry,” according to the National Weather Service.

“Since late May we have been very dry, particularly last month (June) but we’re not necessarily at the level to declare it a drought yet,” Krentz said. “But that could change soon as we are not expected to receive anything in the way of precipitation for some time. We could be upgraded to a “Level 1” or moderate drought status as early as this week depending on how things shake out.”

According to Krentz, approximately 4.6 inches of rainfall were recorded locally in May, nearly two inches above normal. However, only 1.6 inches of precipitation fell in the Upstate last month, more than two inches below normal for the region.

No rainfall has been recorded up to this point in July.

“We’re definitely concerned. Typically things are a bit more active, it just hasn’t happened in June and up to this point in July,” Krentz said. “Water levels are getting lower and honestly there is not much rain in the immediate forecast to replenish the table.”

Krentz said the best chances of rain are not likely until this weekend, though any scattered showers that do develop would do little to alleviate the dry conditions.