A quick spring break gives way to winter's return Thursday

Temperatures across central North Carolina flirted with 80 degrees on Wednesday, but winter will return tomorrow, and it may bring a wintry mix with it.

Posted 9:21 p.m. Mar 4, 2015 — Updated 3:39 a.m. Mar 5, 2015

RALEIGH, N.C. — Temperatures across central North Carolina flirted with 80 degrees on Wednesday, but winter will return Thursday, and it may bring a wintry mix with it.

"Our 24-hour temperature change this afternoon, 30-40 degrees warmer than we were yesterday," WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said. "Tomorrow will be 30-40 degrees colder than we were today.”

Clouds and showers dominate Thursday as temperatures fall from the 50s in the morning to below freezing by the evening commute.

"We may start the daylight hours with sharply contrasting temperatures from northwest to southeast," WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel said. "Many of us will fall into the 30s by early or mid-afternoon as stiff winds from the north set in."

The Triangle and surrounding areas will see rain in the morning, but by mid-afternoon, areas north and west of Raleigh are expected to see sleet and freezing rain, which will spread to the entire Triangle by early evening.

"Tomorrow night, temperatures will be in the 20s, so areas of black ice will be likely," Maze said. "We may even have a winter weather advisory issued for tomorrow night."

A spokeswoman for the Wake County Public School System, the largest in the state, said officials there would be monitoring conditions throughout the day Thursday.

"In the event that we must call for an early dismissal of school, parents will be notified immediately via an emergency phone call," district spokeswoman Lisa Luten said.

There is a small chance of lingering wintry mix in the evening, especially in Person, Granville, Vance and Warren counties.

"Most of us will just notice the bitter cold," Fishel said.

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