Raleigh, N.C. — The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for central North Carolina until 8 a.m. and frost advisory until 9 a.m. Friday for more than 30 counties, including Wake, Johnston, Orange, Durham, Halifax, Nash and Cumberland.

Friday marked the coldest morning so far for the season with temperatures in the low 30s in rural areas and mid-30s in urban areas.

The chances for freezing conditions is greater in rural and sheltered places, WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said.

"For a true killing freeze, we would need to see temperatures in the upper 20s for about three hours," she said. "That's not likely to happen, but there certainly little patches of frost are likely to be seen in places."

A frost warning Wednesday night never materialized for many places because of cloud cover that kept temperatures above freezing.

Highs in the Triangle should be in the 60s for the next few days as cloud cover starts to build. Rain doesn't return to the forecast until Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

Triangle residents should wake up to brilliant skies through the weekend.