Raleigh gets one more summer-like afternoon Thursday before the forecast takes a decidedly wetter turn. Sunshine and a high near 86 degrees will give way to a stormy weekend, with heavy rain chances rising late Saturday and peaking Sunday.
The Capital City starts Thursday in the upper 50s, but temperatures will climb quickly under sunny skies. West winds around 5 mph should keep the afternoon comfortable enough for outdoor plans, while rain chances remain near zero.
Friday brings a cooler but still pleasant high near 77 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. The latest outlook from the National Weather Service marks a significant shift from the earlier forecast, with the weekend rain signal strengthening considerably.
Rain Arrives Late Saturday
Saturday stays mostly cloudy with a high near 72, and east winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Showers become more likely Saturday night after 8 p.m., followed by a chance of thunderstorms after midnight, with an 80% chance of precipitation overall.
Sunday looks like the wettest day of the forecast period, with showers and thunderstorms likely throughout the day and a high near 74. Around 1 to 2 inches of rain could fall across much of central North Carolina, according to the weather service, so outdoor plans and travel may need some flexibility.
The stronger weekend storm signal is a substantive update from Hoodline's earlier Raleigh forecast, which already flagged rain but had less confidence in the timing and intensity. No watches, warnings or advisories are currently posted for the Raleigh area.
Sunshine Returns After The Soaker
Rain chances fall to 30% Monday, when mostly sunny skies and a high near 79 may bring a partial reset for Columbus Day. Tuesday looks sunny near 81, followed by a cooler Wednesday with a high around 72 and an overnight low near 51.
