Record heat persists through Saturday before sharp cooldown Sunday night

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- First Alert: Daily record highs will be challenged today through Saturday. Much cooler air arrives Sunday night into Monday with a cold front. A statewide burn ban continues for North Carolina until further notice.

Good Friday morning! A weak disturbance will lead to a few light showers/stray rumble of thunder this morning for the Triangle and north. Out-the-door temps are in the mid 50s to mid 60s with a few early morning clouds. It won't be as hot today with highs in the mid 80s north and upper 80s in the Triangle. Expect near-record highs in the low 90s in the Sandhills.

Big heat returns Saturday as we challenge records once again in the mid 90s with clouds creeping in late ahead of a cold front.

Scattered light showers/spotty storms will be possible Sunday morning and afternoon with the cold front, but rain totals remain meager at 0.10" or less.
This front is going to usher in much cooler air, though it will not be too far off from the average for this time of year. The high on Sunday looks to be first thing in the morning with temperatures falling the rest of the day.

Temps will crash down into Sunday night, falling all the way back into the low 40s by Monday morning. It will likely be breezy as well. Highs will be in the mid upper 60s Monday.
Monday night may end up the coldest as high pressure moves overhead by Tuesday morning with temps once again in the low 40s.

High pressure will linger into the middle of next week, keepings sunny skies and quickly building highs back into the 80s by Wednesday. Another front may try to approach by Thursday, but modeling is pretty split on the upper-level pattern and strength of the front as it presses down from the Northeast.

Another front will bring better rain chances by next weekend (April 25-26).

The U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook from April 16 through July 31 was released Thursday. The drought tendency will persist over much of the region and the state well into summer (July 31).

Have a great day!
Kweilyn