Residents in Raleigh and surrounding areas in central North Carolina should brace themselves for a chilly start today as a Freeze Warning remains in effect until 9 AM, with temperatures hitting sub-freezing levels that "could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing," as stated on the National Weather Service website. The warning, which covers a broad swath of central NC, including Wake, Guilford, and Forsyth counties, alerts to the potential for frost and temperatures ranging from 27 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the frigid morning fades, the forecast promises a mix of calm winds and gradually warming temperatures, reaching a sunny high near 60 today and climbing to near 68 degrees with isolated showers by Thursday afternoon - the calm winds becoming southeast around 6 mph later, a bit of a shift in what has so far been a quiet start to the spring weather-wise for the Tar Heel state. Transitioning into Thursday night, however, residents should expect showers and possibly a thunderstorm, the chance of precipitation shooting up to a soaking 90 percent, according to the National Weather Service.
The outlook over the forthcoming days is a weather rollercoaster with frequent fluctuations; showers are on the horizon for Friday, and thunderstorms may potentially rumble after 11 AM - the likelihood of rain remains high at 90 percent, so keep umbrellas close and garden parties on a flexible schedule. The weekend will bring partly cloudy skies, with a persisting chance of showers maintaining a fair 30 percent likelihood on Saturday, dimming the otherwise mostly sunny disposition forecasted.
Looking ahead, after another possible sprinkle of showers Saturday night, the sun is set to reclaim dominance on Sunday with mostly sunny conditions and a high near 64 degrees, perfect for any outdoor plans that might have been dampened by the week's intermittent downpours. The warmup continues into early next week; Monday will boast a sunny high near 77, and by Tuesday, the mercury could rise to a near balmy high of 83, giving all the signs that despite a freeze today, spring in central North Carolina is unfurling its warmth steadily according to the information provided by the National Weather Service.
