About time: Clear skies, warm temps kick off weekend; possible storms to end it

Most towns around central North Carolina started the day with temperatures in the mid-50s, but the mercury will climb to near 80 degrees both Friday and Saturday. Low temperatures overnight will only bottom out in the high 50s.

"Beautiful today and tomorrow, though," said WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner. "80 degrees today, 81 degrees for tomorrow, 78 (degrees) Sunday."

Triangle weather is on your phone - Download the WRAL Weather app

Clear skies welcomed a warm sunrise early Friday, and Gardner said the sun will stay out through the rest of the day.

"This time yesterday, we had some cloud cover across our area — not seeing any of that, though, this morning," Gardner said. "We'll have a nice, bright day today and much of tomorrow, too."

High pressure will continue to linger just off the coast on Friday, bringing the clear skies and warm air. But a developing storm system in the West will make its way toward the Tar Heel state later in the weekend.

Clouds will begin to roll into central-North Carolina counties early Sunday morning, and those will develop into showers around lunchtime. The heavier storms, though, will move in over Sunday night and stick around for the Monday morning commute.

"By first thing on Monday morning, we're into that line of thunderstorms across our area," Gardner said. "Could be strong to severe."

Raleigh and surrounding counties will be under a level two risk for severe weather on a five-level scale. Gardner said the storms could bring damaging winds, isolated tornadoes and heavy rain.