Warm weekend a welcome change from the last one

Raleigh, N.C. — The weekend promises just about perfect weather, WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel said Friday.

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Saturday and Sunday will be two of the warmest days so far this year, with afternoon temperatures reaching 82 degrees, he said.

On Friday, morning clouds cleared for springlike sunshine, and the afternoon high broke the 70-degree mark. Overnight, skies will be clear with a low near 50 degrees.

Even greater warming and dry weather are ahead for the weekend, when Daylight Saving Time returns and clocks "spring ahead" at 2 a.m. Sunday, too.

Surface and upper-level high pressure will keep warm, southerly breezes flowing into North Carolina through the weekend, raising temperatures to unseasonable highs. It will be a little bit cooler at the coast, Fishel said, because cool water temperatures have a moderating effect even when it gets warmer inland

"If you are planning anything outdoors that requires the weather being dry and warm, then this is the perfect weekend for you," WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said.

The pleasant weather will stick around to start the workweek. "Monday's not going to be too shabby either," Fishel said.

"It is really not going to cool off until the end of next week," he said.

By the end of next week, though, more seasonable conditions for March should return on the heels of a cold front that could bring some rain.