Spring arrives with slight chance of snow

After a high temperature of 65 degrees at Raleigh-Durham International Airport and 69 degrees in Fayetteville Monday afternoon, cold and rain, and the possibility for snow, return by midweek.

Showers and thunderstorms will roll in from the west late Monday, with the heaviest rain crossing the Triangle Tuesday before dawn.

WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth said isolated severe storms are possible early Tuesday morning, especially in southern counties. The storms bring a threat of damaging winds and large hail.

Temperatures will dip Tuesday night and continue their decline right into Wednesday morning, when the colder air means a rain and sleet mix could turn to snow for some.

"The temperatures won't fall past about the upper 30s," Wilmoth said, "so we're not expecting much in the area of accumulation."

Models show that Raleigh could receive anywhere from a trace to .10 inch of snow.

"The best chance for any pockets of light accumulations look to be north and west of the Raleigh area, and especially closer to the Virginia border," WRAL meteorologist Mike Moss said.

"Current models show that the snow could turn back into rain by the afternoon," he added, and it is unlikely enough snow will accumulate to affect roads.

Following Wednesday's possible wintry mix, Thursday and Friday will be sunny again, with temperatures in the low 50s.

The weekend will be warmer, with highs closer to 60 degrees.