Raleigh, N.C. — Warm temperatures and sunshine will return to central and eastern North Carolina Tuesday afternoon after a cloudy start to the day, WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel said. 

Showers and thunderstorms were pushing through the Triangle at 11 p.m., dropping heavy rain in spots.

"We haven't seen anything severe, but we did see some lightning and thunderstorms as our front moves in from the west," Fishel said.

Lingering clouds will clear quickly Tuesday morning, allowing temperatures to climb quickly despite a northwesterly breeze.

Sunshine will dominate the middle of the week, but temperatures will stay below normal, climbing into the mid and upper 50s, about 10 degrees below average for mid-March.

"Enjoy the warmth we'll have Tuesday, because unseasonably cool air is on the way," Fishel said. "Wednesday is the first official day of spring, but we'll be about 10 degrees below normal and that cool trend will continue for much of the next seven days."

Overnight lows will be cool also, falling into the 30s throughout much of the week.

By the weekend, high temperatures will only climb into the 40s under cloudy skies.