Spotty storms pop up over central NC

Wednesday was sunny and humid in the Triangle, a prescription that cued scattered storms as a cold front moved in after 4 p.m.

The National Weather Service had most of central North Carolina under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m. The watch simply means that conditions are ripe for storms to form. The greatest chance for severe weather comes for those in north central and northeastern North Carolina.

"We're looking at the chance for mainly wind and hail with those storms," WRAL meteorologist Nate Johnson said.

The damage will be no where near what was seen in Texas Tuesday, where an upper level low produced at least two large tornadoes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. 

"We don't expect tornadoes, but we could see a couple of isolated storms producing damaging wind gusts later in the afternoon and evening," WRAL meteorologist Mike Moss said. "It's something to keep an eye on."

High temperatures topped out over 80 degrees Wednesday afternoon, more than 15 degrees above normal for the first week of April. 

Once the front clears Wednesday evening, temperatures will fall back into the mid-50s overnight and set up a two-day break from the heat. 

Rain showers will keep things cool Thursday, as high temperatures climb into the low-to-mid 60s. On Friday, parts of the area might not see temperatures climb above 60. 

The Easter weekend forecast is pleasant, with sunshine and temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s returning to the area.

Despite the increase in daytime temperatures, overnight lows will stay cool, dipping into the upper 30s to near 40 both Saturday and Sunday.