A Warm Easter Weekend

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Following a cooler-than-average day mostly in the 60s yesterday, temperatures stepped up a few degrees this afternoon to right around average for mid-April. As a ridge of high pressure builds in, the mercury will really ratchet up through the next week, with the current extended stretch of dry weather expected to come to an end by the new week.

In the short term, following a morning with temperatures in the 30s for some, we will not have any frost concerns tonight as the mercury will not drop below 50 in urbanized areas of the Triangle and 40s in the suburbs. As high pressure sets up offshore beginning tomorrow, the mercury will head into the 80s, and be there for much of the rest of the forecast period. The humidity will remain fairly manageable into the weekend, when temperatures will flirt with the upper-80s (though dew points can knock on the door of 60 at times into Monday).

The next opportunity for some rain will come as the ridge weakens some early next week and some waves of energy can begin to intrude on the lower mid-Atlantic region. From Monday night through Thursday, we will allow for low chances for showers and maybe even a thunderstorm, with the best odds coming Wednesday. There is a bit of difference in the modeling in this time frame, causing temperatures to waffle some, but a middle-of-the-road approach was taken for now.

Have a great evening!

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