Work week closes with dreary, wet Friday; rain possible all weekend

Clouds and showers associated with the low moved into southern and eastern parts of the area early Thursday, and precipitation arrived for the bulk of the area Thursday evening.

As Friday dawned, heavier showers and bands of rain moved into the Triangle.

"Some of the rain will be heavy at times, like a tropical system, but this storm does not have a warm core like a tropical system would," Gardner said.

Rain chances in the Triangle will be as much as 80 percent on Friday and 70 percent on Saturday, the two wettest days of the next five.

"It's a mixed blessing, because we need the rain," Gardner said. "Areas along the coast will see a bigger impact as this low sort of lingers, but we could see 1 to 2 inches of rain in the northern parts of the area and 2 to 3 inches in the south.

Although rain is predicted for Saturday, Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel said that conditions will not be as bad as those predicted for Friday. As long as people don't mind a little dampness, they should be able to get outside to catch a football game or just do their grocery shopping without needing an umbrella, Fishel said.

"We think it will be very overcast, it'll be breezy and cool and damp with periodic patches of light rain, but nothing like what we're going to see Friday," Fishel said.

Gray skies will keep temperatures cool, with daytime highs staying in the upper 60s and low 70s for the next several days.

Rain chances will go down to about 50 percent on Sunday and 30 percent on Monday, but it could be Tuesday before sunshine and slightly warmer temperatures return.