Weekend heat will ride into the 'danger zone'

The heat index, the combination of temperature and humidity, will rise to 95 on Thursday. The number is forecast to climb into triple digits by Saturday, though, and push there through Monday.

"We get into the weekend, and it feels much worse," said WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner. "We start to get into the danger zone, especially Sunday and Monday.

"In order for the Weather Service to issue a heat advisory, the heat index, or the 'feels like' temperature, has to be at around 105 for several hours, and we're going to get close to that on Sunday."

In a heat advisory, the National Weather Service advises people who must be outside to stay hydrated, take frequent breaks during activity and find shade to cool down. The NWS also stresses to check vehicles for children and pets before walking away—the temperature inside a car can rise in an hour to more than 120 degrees when the outside temperature is just 80 degrees.

High pressure floating to the west should keep most of the Triangle dry over the weekend, though Gardner said a few storms can't be ruled out completely.