'Unusually cool' week to drift into summer-like weekend

Temperatures will climb into the mid-80s Friday afternoon before inching closer to 90 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. People looking to get outside should have little trouble, as sunny skies will dominate throughout the weekend.

"The muggy air is on its way back," Gardner said. "A high pressure system will be parked right over central North Carolina by Friday night and will bring that warm air back to the forecast. It's going to feel like summer again after our pleasant week."

Despite the brief break in warm weather the last several days, the first five months of 2012 have been the hottest on record in the Triangle and country. 

The 12-month period starting last June is also the hottest on record, officials said. 

"Our temperatures could easily be in the 90s every day this time of year," Gardner said. "That's what has made the last few days so odd. Overnight temperatures in the low 50s don't happen very often in June." 

Afternoon showers and thunderstorms will return to the Triangle Monday as a system moves northward from the Gulf of Mexico. High temperatures should remain in the mid-to-upper 80s for the next week.