Severe weather unlikely, but possible Thursday

The Triangle will wake up to mostly cloudy skies with a possible isolated shower and temperatures around 70 degrees.

Thursday's high will reach 80 degrees by lunchtime before showers move in. The Triangle could receive up to an inch of rain by Friday morning.

"We may not see rain in our area until late in the day, but once it gets here it will arrive in force," WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said.

Thunderstorms, high wind gusts and isolated tornadoes are possible overnight as the front pushes through, although central North Carolina will avoid widespread severe weather.

"We will likely have a pretty messy morning commute, but it's going to clear out nicely by midday Friday," Gardner said. "Another benefit of this front will be the cooler, drier air mass that we get behind it."

Highs Friday, Saturday and Sunday will climb into the mid-70s, and sunshine, without the humidity, should be the dominant feature throughout the weekend. Overnight lows will dip back into the 50s.

"It's going to be absolutely beautiful this weekend," Gardner said. "Our dew points will be much lower, and we'll get a spring-like air mass."