Raleigh woke up to air that felt more like late spring than early March on Friday, March 6, 2026, with temperatures hovering near 57°F at Raleigh-Durham International Airport and a blanket of low clouds draped over parts of the Triangle. Sunshine is expected to punch through by late morning, sending afternoon highs toward a steamy 82°F on a light southwest breeze. Patchy morning fog is set to make return appearances in low-lying spots through the weekend, while the best shot at measurable rain holds off until Sunday.
What To Expect Today
Plan on a partly sunny, unseasonably warm afternoon, with highs near 82°F and southwest winds around 5 to 8 mph. The extra humidity will add a little sting, making it feel warmer than a typical early March day. A few gusts could briefly push into the upper teens during the afternoon. Local forecasters are flagging this as part of a sustained warm streak, according to WECT.
Weekend Outlook
Saturday starts off with patchy fog before about 8 a.m., then turns warm again with highs in the upper 70s. Clouds thicken on Sunday, when showers and thunderstorms are likely and the high should reach near 79°F. The National Weather Service in Raleigh puts Sunday’s chance of precipitation around 60%, and notes that increasing wind shear could support a marginal severe weather threat in the afternoon. Rainfall totals are expected to stay light overall, but any stronger storm could dump a quick, heavy downpour.
Fog And The Commute
Low clouds and fog will be most stubborn across the Sandhills and southern Coastal Plain, where visibility can dip fast on rural stretches and slow down the early drive. Smaller airports and low-lying corridors could see MVFR to brief IFR conditions, so travelers may want to pad their schedule for pre-dawn departures. Local outlets highlighted patchy dense fog earlier this week, underscoring how quickly it can settle in, according to WSOC-TV.
Bottom Line
Raleigh is locked into a stretch of unseasonably warm weather through at least the middle of next week, with overnight lows staying in the upper 50s to low 60s and daytime highs generally topping out in the upper 70s to low 80s. That runs roughly 15 to 20°F above normal for early March, according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh. For a deeper dive into the pattern that set this up, revisit the earlier foggy start, sizzling finish forecast. If you have outdoor plans Sunday, keep a close eye on the timing of those storms.
