Folks in Eastern North Carolina have lived through a typical July with hot temperatures. Now it appears that August will start out with a major heat wave. A few thunderstorms should rumble across the area on Thursday and Friday. By the weekend skies will begin to clear and temperatures will rebound from the lower 90s into the middle to upper 90s. By early next week many communities could see highs of 98° to 100°. Relative humidity levels will stay high so heat advisory conditions are likely by Sunday into the first half of next week.