Cloudy Friday, wet Saturday, and cooler but sunny Sunday

As the post title indicates today - Friday - through the weekend will feature changeable weather. Temperatures in the low 40s greeted the dawn this morning around Mecklenburg County under cloudy skies. Forecast high temperatures are for the upper 60s this afternoon, but that may be too optimistic. Going out on a limb here, local thermometers are more likely to top out near 60º by sunset today. 

(UPDATE at 3:00 pm: The limb I went out on broke. Temps now in the mid- and upper 60s around the county!) 

Most of today will be dry with shower chances becoming more likely near sunset. The bulk of the upcoming rain event looks to occur overnight and throughout Saturday. Despite earlier indications of a track further west, the approaching low pressure system now looks to be far enough east to bring substantial rainfall to Mecklenburg County. This graphic shows the precipitation forecast from NWS Wakefield:

Gusty southerly winds will usher in very mild air on Saturday. Temperatures will begin the day in the mid-50s before climbing into the mid-60s tomorrow afternoon. Then, the cold front associated with the storm system will pass through the area during the wee hours of Sunday morning.

Behind that boundary the winds will swap directions, coming out of the northwest and west while gusting over 20 mph during the daytime hours Sunday. Clouds and any residual showers will move out after sunrise, leaving behind a sunny but cooler day to end the weekend. Afternoon highs will top out in the upper 40s, just about the average at this point in January.