Showers Friday and a warm weekend

Welcome to the Ides of March (Friday, 3/15)! Julius Caesar may have needed to beware of the day, but today's weather won't be as notable. The rough stuff that left a path of destruction across the Midwest and Ohio valley yesterday has weakened and won't pose a threat for Mecklenburg county. 

Today looks to be warm with increasing clouds as cold front #1 approaches:

Forecast surface map 2 pm Friday

Ahead of this boundary gusty southwesterly winds will pump warm moist air into the area, boosting temperatures to near the 80 degree mark before showers arrive midafternoon. There could be a rumble of thunder anytime after 3:00 p.m. but no severe storms are expected. Up to a quarter-inch of rain is expected locally as this system crosses the area near midnight tonight.

Behind the boundary winds will swap around out of the north and skies will begin to clear Saturday morning. Temperatures will rise from morning lows near 50 to an afternoon high in the mid-60s, still several degrees above the average. Sunday (St. Patrick's Day!) then looks to be a bit warmer under mostly sunny skies as local thermometers again reach the 70 degree mark.

Then after sunset Sunday cold front #2 (see above) arrives, bringing a late March cooldown. The switch should remind folks that it's still too early to plant cold-sensitive vegetation. Scattered frost isn't out of the question early next week!