Cooler than average weekend, but Palm Sunday will bring sunshine

Today (Friday) began with temperatures in the mid- to upper 40s around Mecklenburg county. Showers are moving northward through the area as this post is being penned, all thanks to a surface low pressure currently located southeast of Raleigh NC. As today progresses that low pressure center will move northeast toward Tidewater Virginia. Locally, winds will remain out of the north under plenty of cloud cover.

The rain will continue throughout today, possibly accompanied by some rumbles of thunder. Much cooler temperatures in the upper air may even foster some small hail, possibly pea-sized but not anything large. Local thermometers will register this afternoon's maxima at or just below 60º, about ten degrees below today's average. 

Saturday will also be cloudy and damp as an upper level low pressure center forms and takes it sweet time moving off the East Coast. Temperatures at dawn look to be in the mid-40s, only topping out in the mid-50s while being accompanied by continued northerly winds. Showers will gradually ease off by late afternoon, with rain totaling up to an inch and a half as shown on this NWS Wakefield graphic:

The clouds finally move out Saturday night, leaving clear skies behind on Palm Sunday as high pressure takes control. The latter weekend day will warm into the mid-60s along with light northwesterly breezes. The beginning of the work week looks even warmer, but another round of cool air arrives midweek.

Happy Friday!