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Raleigh beats record low set back in 1986

Raleigh beat a record set in 1986 on Friday morning when temperatures plunged to 31 degrees.

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WRAL Severe Weather Center
RALEIGH, N.C. — Raleigh beat a record set on April 23, 1986, on Friday morning when temperatures plunged to 31 degrees. Fayetteville recorded a low of 35 degrees Friday morning, tying a record from 1927.

The majority of central North Carolina was under a frost advisory from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday morning while a freeze warning was in effect for counties north of the Triangle.

Raleigh beats record low set back in 1986

After the chilly start, Friday will be sunny and mild, with a high in the mid to upper 60s. Sensitive plants can be uncovered or brought back outside Friday afternoon, because we shouldn't have another freezing morning for a while. Clouds will build in this afternoon, but we won't see rain until tomorrow.

"This will be the coldest morning for the next seven days," WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said. "Highs climb into the 80s next week!"

Before the warmer temperatures we'll have to deal with rain.

A system will arrive on Saturday, bringing the potential for widespread rain and clouds, especially in the afternoon and evening. Some counties south of the Triangle are under a severe weather risk for Saturday.

Parts of the WRAL viewing area could see damaging winds and hail on Saturday.

The rain is good news to some -- this is the sixth driest April to date on record at RDU. It might help to get rid of any lingering pollen as well.

"I would expect this to really be an all-day kind of rain," Gardner said. "We can see a half-an-inch to an inch of rain. It's pretty dry out there so we need this rain."

When it is not raining, it will be cloudy and cool.

Rain chances April 22-26

The threat for severe weather on Saturday is likely to stay south of the Triangle, but Fayetteville and other counties south of the Triangle could see severe storms if the warm front makes it far enough north.

"That's a pretty stable pattern and not really conducive to strong thunderstorms," Gardner said. "If a warm front lifts northward, we could see a band of thunderstorms that develops."

The chance of severe storms are conditional on the timing of a warm front.

Sunday is the better day for outdoor plans with highs back in the 70s and only a small chance for rain in the morning.

The work week ahead looks sunny and warm with highs in the 70s Monday and highs in the 80s beginning Tuesday.

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