Afternoon sun follows Thursday morning rain

Low pressure moving east across North Carolina on Thursday will bring some rain during the morning commute but will clear out for a warm, sunny afternoon.

By 1 p.m. the rain clouds will move off the coast to reveal clear skies. High temperatures around the region will be close to 70 degrees.

"Here we are at 7 (a.m.)," said WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner. "As the (morning) traffic gets heavier, so does the rain. But then by lunchtime, it's moving on out."

Clouds will thicken up again in the evening, bringing a possible band of rain through the Triangle from 9 to 11 p.m., which could affect the end of the Durham Bulls' Opening Day game.

"That's significant for folks heading out to the Opening Day at the Durham Bulls," Gardner said. "We may end the game with a little bit of rain, but should start things off really pretty out there."

Weekend temperatures will plunge again as runners line up for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and 1/2 Marathon.

Temperatures on Saturday will begin in the high 30s when the 5K races begins at 8 a.m. On Sunday, though, the morning mercury drops into the high 20s—the marathon and half-marathon races start at 7 a.m.