Raleigh woke up under a blanket of mostly cloudy skies Thursday, with temperatures hovering around 60°F and just a low-end chance of light showers. Any sprinkles that do pop up through early afternoon should be brief, with the mercury still climbing toward a mild high near 72°F. Light southwest breezes will help keep things comfortable for most outdoor plans.
Today's Forecast
Forecast models keep a slight chance of light rain in the mix between about 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., but most neighborhoods are expected to stay dry. Where showers do land, new rainfall totals should stay under a tenth of an inch. Southwest winds around 2 to 9 mph will accompany those mild afternoon readings, according to the National Weather Service forecast for central North Carolina.
This warm stretch has been building for days, with the same southerly flow nudging temperatures above seasonal norms. For the backstory on how we got here, check out our earlier warmup breakdown.
What to Expect Through the Weekend
Friday looks like the main event, with highs likely topping out in the mid 70s to upper 70s across the Triangle and winds occasionally gusting around 20 to 25 mph. After that, things get a bit trickier.
A stalled front near the North Carolina and Virginia border is the wildcard for Sunday into Monday. Some forecast scenarios spin up a coastal low that drags rain into the region Sunday and into Monday. Other solutions keep most of that precipitation offshore. If that low does clip the coast, expect a quick cool-down behind it early next week.
Plan Ahead
For Thursday, a compact umbrella is smart insurance for any passing shower, but most plans should be fine to stay outdoors. With Friday shaping up as the warmest day, you may want to keep an eye on wind and any late-weekend changes if you are planning outdoor events.
By Monday, temperatures are projected to dip below normal, and there is a brief chance of light snow or a wintry mix north and east of Raleigh early in the day. If you have travel scheduled, it is worth checking updated forecasts as the setup becomes clearer.
