Beat the Heat in WNC: Heat-Health Alerts Issued Across the Mountains

WNC News -- August 11, 2026: As mid-summer weather peaks across Western North Carolina, state health officials have issued heat-health alerts for Buncombe County and surrounding mountain areas. With air temperatures climbing into the low 90s and humidity pushing heat index values into the mid-to-upper 90s, staying cool is becoming a top priority for mountain residents.While WNC's elevation typically provides a cooler retreat compared to the Piedmont, valley floors and low-lying areas across the