A massive fire consumes a Rutherford County Pallet Recycling Plant.

On average, we’re now entering the hottest time of the year, meaning the eventual downward turn in temperatures won’t be too far off.

Forecasters say the hottest weather so far this summer is expected across South Carolina.

Afternoon and early evening thunderstorms ripped through the Upstate and western North Carolina Thursday, with high winds, heavy rain and hail.

Storm Team 7 expects more showers and thunderstorms in the Carolinas Wednesday. Some of those storms could be severe before wet weather is replaced by the hottest temperatures of the year.

A cold front brings the threat of strong and severe storms to the Upstate. Many counties are under a thunderstorm watch until 6 p.m. and some until 10 p.m.

Storm Team 7 says temperatures could reach 100 degrees in parts of the Upstate.

Some parts of the Upstate could see triple-digit high temperatures on Monday. The National Weather Service at GSP International reported a temperature of 82 degrees at 8:00am Monday.