Downed limb knocks out power to Pullen Park, part of Raleigh

Pullen Park was without electricity Friday afternoon, and people were being encouraged to leave the park, according to park officials.

Families and their children were unable to ride the amusement park rides due to the power outage.

City officials initially thought the outage was caused by Friday's scorching heat, but later discovered that a fallen tree branch caused the outage.

More than 750 customers in the area of Western Boulevard and Avent Ferry in Raleigh were without power at around 12 p.m. on Friday.

The heat index in Raleigh at noon was around 100 degrees, with temperatures only expected to climb.

Friday was the latest in a string of days with heat that made it feel like 100+, and long-range forecasts indicate above-normal temperatures are likely to stick around into August.

The forecast highs stay in the mid- to upper-90s for the next seven days, with only a slight chance for relief from afternoon thunderstorms.