The previous record of 100 degrees was set in 1948. At 2:54 p.m., the National Weather Service tools at Raleigh Durham International Airport recorded heat at 101 degrees.
In addition to the heat, storms are still possible this evening. The storms are expected to develop sometime between 9 p.m. and midnight.
Not everybody in central North Carolina will see storms, but the storms that do develop could be severe with damaging straight-line wind.
High temperatures drop back down into the low 90s starting Friday, and a low risk for isolated storms remains in place through the weekend
Next week, high temperatures will drop into the 70s, with some lows even flirting with the 50s.