Wednesday morning, March 18, 2026, Raleigh woke up to a late-winter slap in the face, with near-freezing readings and a mostly cloudy sky. Temperatures hovered around 30°F at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and a light northeast breeze kept the air feeling every bit as cold during the morning commute. Highs will stay below normal, topping out near 50°F this afternoon.
Today
Skies turn mostly sunny Wednesday, March 18, with a high near 50°F and light northeast winds around 1 to 5 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low near 31°F and only a stray shower chance. There are no watches or warnings in effect, according to the National Weather Service.
Late Week Warmup
Temperatures climb through Thursday, March 19, and Friday, March 20, with highs near 61°F on Thursday and about 69°F on Friday. Saturday and Sunday look much warmer, with a high near 77°F on Saturday and a possible upper 70s to low 80s day on Sunday, March 22. Southwest winds will increase over the weekend and could be gusty at times.
Storm Chance And Timing
The next best chance of measurable rain arrives Sunday, March 22, through Tuesday, March 24, as a backdoor cold front moves through. Forecasters note a large spread in the forecast models and low confidence in the exact timing. A faster frontal arrival could bring stronger storms Sunday evening, while a slower solution would keep temperatures warmer. The National Weather Service area forecast discussion highlights this uncertainty.
What To Know
Morning commuters should layer up for near-freezing starts through Thursday and watch for cooler low-lying spots that could dip into the mid 20s overnight. If you have big outdoor plans for the weekend, keep them flexible, since the timing for showers or storms could shift as the week goes on.
