Weekend ends sunny, cold; freeze warning issued

"We are under a freeze warning from late tonight until Sunday morning," said WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze. "We will see temperatures dip into the 20s overnight."

Maze said the brief cold snap could threaten plants recently put into the ground.

"If you've done any spring planting, you'll want to make sure anything vulnerable is covered or inside!"

Saturday night will be the coldest night since March 7 when temperatures dropped down to the 20 degree mark, Maze said.

"We are not expecting a record low tonight as the old record for tomorrow morning is 20 degrees set back in 1969."

The cold air will stay put early Sunday morning, as lows dip back into the upper 20s, before another warming trend begins.

Sunday will remain clear and temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 40s by the late afternoon hours.

"The good thing is, this looks like it will be a quick cold blast and then we will be back to normal," Maze said.

Highs Sunday will top out around 50 degrees under partly cloudy skies, and temperatures will return to the 60s and then 70s by the middle of next week.