Thursday showers unrelated to coming storm

Scattered showers cut a swath across Research Triangle Park, north Raleigh and into Nash County Thursday afternoon. Zebulon saw heavier rainfall.

Showers were mostly contained to the northern half of the state.

In Raleigh, work planned on the Fortify project – including a shift of westbound drivers onto three rebuilt inside lanes between South Saunders Street (Exit 298) and Lake Wheeler Road (Exit 297) – was delayed until Tuesday.

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"Our cold front will likely stall across the state tonight and this will keep clouds and some showers in the forecast," WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said.

Tailgaters and football fans at Raleigh's Carter-Finley Stadium for North Carolina State University's 2016 kickoff game against William & Mary will likely need the rain gear before the game ends. The precipitation chances rise to about 60 percent by 9 p.m. Thursday.

The chance for showers increases further throughout the day on Friday, and temperatures will hold in the mid-70s, cooled by the front and the overcast skies.

Hermine's effects will join the rainy mix later Friday afternoon, prompting thunderstorms and higher winds, although those gusts are unlikely to reach hurricane strength.