Back to 50s on Monday to start up-and-down temperature swing

After losing an hour of sleep, there's more bad news for spring lovers. It's going to feel more like January to start the week.

After a warm weekend, Monday and Tuesday afternoon are going to bring high temperatures that only reach the upper 40s and lower 50s.

Monday morning, most areas will start in the upper 30s and lower 40s with mostly cloudy skies.

Another system will bring a chilly rain on Tuesday morning. Right now, the high Tuesday looks to be 49.

"Most likely, it will impact your morning commute," WRAL Meteorologist Zach Maloch said of the rain Tuesday. "Rain showers will continue through the early afternoon and temperatures stay chilly. It's not going to be a great day."

We'll stay dry Wednesday for St. Patrick's Day with warmer temps but then see more showers on Thursday thanks to a strong area of low pressure. The severe weather prediction center highlights central and eastern North Carolina for a possible risk for severe thunderstorms on Thursday.

"If that warm front moves far enough north, that's when we can see strong and severe storms pop up," Maloch said. "We'll watch this system the next few days."

Temperatures will likely be up and down the next seven days. Wednesday (68) and Thursday's (70) highs are much more pleasant.

Saturday, March 20, marks the first day of spring.