Summer heat invades last weekend of April

Saturday's high of 92 degree tied a 49-year-old record at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Sunday saw temperatures close to that. The high of 91 degrees was just short of the 92 degree high set in 1990.

Sunday won't be as humid, though. "It's not going to be all that humid and steamy or anything, just on the hot side of normal," WRAL meteorologist Mike Moss said.

Temperatures will rise to around 90 degrees again on Monday.

The heat in North Carolina will be more intense than in most East Coast states, because a center of high pressure is sitting off the coast and blowing in hot winds.

"We’ve got the specially warmest core of air from about south-central North Carolina up into the mid-Atlantic region, some of that being enhanced by the fact that the clockwise flow around that high is sinking down off the mountains and warming up more," Moss said.

As the high-pressure system slowly moves north, though, cooler winds coming off the water on the south side of the high-pressure center will start to blow into North Carolina.

"Those'll be creeping up toward North Carolina gradually ... so by Tuesday, our high temperature's still warm but maybe not quite as hot," Moss said.

In the mid-week, a cold front to the north could move south, possibly pushing temperatures down into the upper 70s Thursday.

If you plan to spend any extended time outside, stay hydrated, limit sun exposure and take plenty of rest breaks. Make sure pets have a cool place to be and have enough water.