First Alert Forecast: searching for breaks in the heat...

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Wilmington officially hit a high temperature of 97 again on Wednesday, which was not far from its August 3 record of 99 set back in 1980. Your First Alert Forecast through Friday offers a similar helping of 90s - and 100+ heat index values - for the Port City and across the Cape Fear Region. Stay hydrated... Stay rested... Stay neighborly to people and pets... You know the drill! We do expect a slight dip in temperatures this weekend, as highs return to seasonable levels.

Searching for cooling now... If you aim to cool off in the 82-degree surf, be mindful of a moderate rip current risk for Cape Fear beaches through Thursday. Also, odds for a drenching and thereby cooling shower or storm will be in the 20-30% range through early next week. And lastly, while it may be a mirage: some long-range computer models are hinting that a slightly cooler pattern change may develop by late next week.

In the meantime, catch your hot seven-day forecast right here: http://webpubcontent.gray.tv/wect/MAXSevendayWECT.jpg.

Or, anytime, customize your location and extend your outlook to ten days with your WECT Weather App.

Thankfully, no Atlantic tropical systems right now! Please stay prepared though: wect.com/hurricane.

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