Raleigh woke up in the mid 30s early Wednesday morning (March 25, 2026) under mostly sunny skies, and the chill will not stick around for long. Temperatures will climb quickly into a pleasant afternoon, with highs near 66°F and light east winds around 1 to 5 mph.
Afternoon And Tonight
Skies stay mostly sunny through Wednesday afternoon, with temperatures topping out near 66°F. Tonight, clouds increase a bit but conditions remain quiet, with a partly cloudy sky, a low around 50°F, and a light southerly breeze. Little or no measurable rain is expected through early Thursday morning, so evening plans are in good shape.
Late-Week Warmup And Friday Front
Temperatures trend up later in the week, with Thursday headed for the upper 70s, near 79°F. By Friday, the warming peaks, and afternoon highs could push into the mid 80s, with a high near 86°F.
A strong cold front is expected to move through late Friday into Friday night and could bring showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening. The highest chance of storms looks to be roughly between about 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, March 27. Gusts of roughly 20 to 25 mph are possible around the front, according to NWS Raleigh, which means those patio lunches and kids’ practices may get cut short.
Weekend Cool Down
Behind the front, Saturday, March 28 turns noticeably cooler and breezy, with highs near 58°F. Overnight lows into Sunday morning could drop into the mid 30s, creating the potential for patchy frost on Sunday, March 29, under clear skies. Temperatures then moderate again early next week, with highs returning to the 70s by Monday and Tuesday.
What This Means For Plans
If you have Friday afternoon outdoor plans, try to move them earlier or under cover, since brief storms and gusty winds could disrupt small events and complicate drive-time trips. Gardeners should protect tender plants Saturday night into Sunday morning because of the frost risk.
For context on this stretch of spring warmth and the quick flip back to chillier air, see our earlier Hoodline coverage on how spring heat cranks up.
