Reign of rain ends

Raleigh, N.C. — The reign of rain ended across North Carolina Tuesday. "You won't need that rain coat by afternoon," WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said.

After a cloudy start with patches of drizzle, skies began to gradually clear in the Triangle by early afternoon.

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We will see a warm-up, too, Gardner said. After suffering below-normal temperatures since Friday, the Triangle should move gradually back into the normal range by mid-week.

Tuesday's high temperatures will depend solely on how quickly the clouds depart. The most likely scenario showed the warm air moving slowly in from the mountains of western North Carolina.

"It will be much warmer in Asheville than in the Triangle Tuesday," Gardner said.

For the central part of the state, Gardner forecast afternoon highs in the mid-50s with increasing sunshine.

Tuesday night will be partly to mostly cloudy and cool, with lows dipping into the 30s.

There is a chance for overnight fog, and Wednesday is likely to start out fairly gloomy, Gardner said. Winds shifting to the south and southwest will bring a warm air mass to the Triangle Wednesday afternoon, warming the air to the mid-60s. "Some places may top out near 70 degrees," Gardner said.

Thursday will bring much of the same, but a cool front will moderate temperatures for Friday and Saturday. Highs those two days are forecast only in the mid-50s.