Triangle ties 36-year-old record today as temp soars to 96 degrees

The mercury hit 96 degrees Thursday at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The last time the temperature went that high on this day was 1983.

"It's hot and humid," said said.

Much of the Triangle was under a Level 1 risk for severe weather Thursday because of the risk of isolated pop-up storms that could bring damaging winds, heavy rain and small hail.

While there’s only a 20 percent chance for showers and storms, the thunderstorms that do develop could be strong, WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said.

The bulk of activity will be in the Triangle and westward and near the Virginia border on Thursday evening, Gardner said.

It’ll be a hot, muggy day, with temperatures reaching 95 degrees and the dew points in the 70s.

“As long as that dew point’s in the 70s, it feels like just the heat of the summer is with us,” Gardner said.

A front to our north moves in Friday, when there’s a 40% chance for rain.

It will be cooler, with a high of 84 degrees.