Sunny, breezy and warm will yield to Friday rain

The record high for the first day of March was set in 1979, when the temperature at Raleigh-Durham International Airport topped out at 83 degrees. 

"It's really enjoyable to be able to go outside and do stuff," said Shane Carter, of Fayetteville. 

Temperatures will dip back into the mid-40s Thursday night as the next system that could bring rain to the Triangle approaches from the south. By Friday afternoon, showers and thunderstorms – some of which could be severe – return to the forecast.

Saturday's forecast is similar, with highs in the low 70s and a chance for thunderstorms. 

Temperatures will begin to cool Sunday as the unsettled air moves out of the area. Highs should top out near 60. By early next week, overnight lows will return to the low to mid-30s and high temperatures will drop back into the mid-50s.