Raleigh is waking up to calm, humid air Thursday before temperatures surge toward 90 degrees under sunny skies. The warmth will not last: a strong cold front arrives Friday night, bringing rain chances, gusty winds and a weekend that feels far more like fall.
Temperatures near 66 degrees early Thursday will climb quickly, with the afternoon high potentially topping Raleigh’s October 15 record of 88 degrees set in 1985, according to the National Weather Service. Rain chances remain near zero today, and Thursday night should stay partly cloudy with a low around 65.
Friday Brings One More Hot Afternoon
Friday will deliver another sunny, unusually warm day, with a high near 89 degrees and southwest winds that could gust to 21 mph. The cold front is expected to cross central North Carolina Friday evening and overnight, with a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m.
The stronger rain signal is a substantive change from Hoodline’s earlier forecast, with Saturday now carrying a 50% chance of showers. The latest outlook calls for generally light rainfall, but timing and coverage remain somewhat uncertain.
Saturday Turns Windy, Wet And Much Cooler
Saturday’s high will reach only about 64 degrees, with north winds around 15 mph and gusts up to 24 mph. Rain showers could bring generally a quarter-inch or less from Friday night through Saturday night, while Saturday night falls to around 44 degrees with another chance of showers.
Sunday stays cool near 65 degrees, with sunny skies. The workweek then moderates, with highs near 68 Monday and in the mid-70s Tuesday.
