Raleigh, N.C. — Cool, dry air was streaming into central North Carolina on Tuesday morning behind a cold front that brought showers and thunderstorms to the area Monday evening, setting up an "almost perfect" second day of the work week, WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said. 

Temperatures fell into the 60s across the Triangle during the early-morning hours and will only rebound into the upper 70s to near 80 degrees by mid-afternoon as sunny weather sets up shop for the next week. Slideshow     Summer fun photos 2012

"The weather today is going to be absolutely fantastic," Gardner said. "We could see some high, thin cirrus clouds, but other than that it's going to feel a lot like a mid-spring day."

Dew points will also be lower, topping out in the mid-40s a day after they were in the 70s.

"Readings that low in late-June are almost unheard of," Gardner said. "If we get into this area with dew points during the summer, it's time to celebrate."

Temperatures will warm back into the mid-80s Wednesday, but dew points will remain low and keep dry, comfortable air in the area. 

The brief respite from summertime heat ends abruptly Thursday, when high temperatures will rocket back into the mid-90s. On Friday, afternoon temperatures in the upper 90s to near 100 degrees could approach records. 

"The record for Friday is actually 99 degrees, so we're going to be in that ball park," Gardner said. "And there is no break over the weekend. We will see highs in the upper 90s both days, and the humidity will be back."

Debby 'unlikely' to bring rain to NC

Tropical Storm Debby, which has dumped up to 20 inches of rain in part of Florida after it formed over the weekend, isn't likely to have an impact on the Triangle, Gardner said. 

The storm, which has sat almost stationary for three days, was forecast to make landfall in northern Florida Thursday morning. 

"It's going to lose its Tropical Storm status as it crosses the state, but once it gets back into the Atlantic Ocean, it will strengthen again," Gardner said. "It looks like it will stay out to sea right now, but we'll be keeping an eye on that over the weekend."