FRANKLIN—Sunday’s high temperature of 101 degrees broke the previous record of 98 set in 1983, according to website weather.com.

The website is calling for temperatures to hover around the 100-degree mark much of the week.

Today’s forecasted high is 92, but temperatures are expected to top out at 98 to 99 the rest of the week.

There is a 40 percent chance of rain today and a 30 percent chance Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. With less than two weeks left in the month, Franklin has seen less than 1/2 inch of rain. The average rainfall for July is more than 5 inches.

Below-average precipitation coupled with above-average temperatures prompted the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to issue a statewide drought watch last week.

More than 80 percent of the state, including Western Tidewater, is experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The drought watch is intended to increase awareness of climatic conditions that are likely to precede a significant drought event and to facilitate preparation for a drought, according to a DEQ news release.

Despite the drought watch, there are no widespread reports of drought conditions affecting public water supplies, according to the DEQ.