Warm weekend comes ahead of Monday's WRAL Weather Alert Day

We're looking at a lovely weekend with warm breezes and highs near 80 degrees.

• Saturday: Partly cloudy, breezy and warmer. High of 83.
• Sunday: Highs are around 80 degrees. Chance for isolated shower/storms later, but mostly dry.
• Monday is a WRAL Weather Alert Day. Some of the storms could be on the strong side during the evening. High near 80 degrees.

Spring to summer: 80s on tap

This weekend will be very warm, starting with Saturday. Morning temperatures begin in the upper 50s and lower 60s. Then, afternoon highs reach the 80s in most locations

“What a great day to be on the lake if you have a boat,” WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said.

Once again, the warmth combined with a gusty wind and dry ground will lead to the threat for brush fires in our western counties through Saturday evening.

Sunday brings more clouds, and the chance for a late-day shower.

"We should still see a lot of dry time," Maze said. Shower chances on Sunday will be around 30%.

How long that rain lingers makes a big difference in the severity of any storms that follow, WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell said.

WRAL Weather Alert Day Monday

Monday is a WRAL Weather Alert Day because of the chance for those gusty storms.

"If it sticks around long enough Monday morning, it could help to limit just how warm we're able to get," Campbell said. That would hold down the amount of thunderstom energy in the atmosphere.

"Storms are looking likely for Monday," Maze said, "mainly during the afternoon and evening. Some of the storms could be on the strong side with gusty winds, but we are not expecting a widespread threat."

Still, the chance for damaging winds, hail or tornados cannot be ruled out.

Skies should clear for Tuesday's Opening Day at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Temperatures will be in the 60s at first pitch and 50s by the 9th inning, so an extra layer may not be a bad idea!

Humidity levels will drop off quite nicely through mid-week.

Then, a large area of high pressure sits on top of the Eastern U.S. This will lead to a big warm-up (some of the warmest air of 2025 locally) later next week.

The pollening has begun

Spring brings pollen, and those who suffer from allergies are already feeling the effects.

As trees like juniper, elm and maple release their allergenic particles, tree pollen counts typically peaks in late March or early April.

We had lots of pine pollen last week, and levels are only rising. Your cars may have a slight dusting in yellow color.

Mold spores, which thrive in the damp of spring showers, also build up as the weather warms. Grass emerges more slowly, with grass pollen peaking in May.

WRAL Azalea Gardens nearing peak season

The WRAL Azalea Gardens have been open since the 1950s, when a thousand colorful azalea bushes were planted outside the WRAL studio. Each year, thousands of visitors visit the gardens for picnics and walks, photos or even weddings.

WRAL News has a guide to visiting the gardens during peak season, which is typically in April. The WRAL Azalea Gardens are open seven days a week, from dawn until dusk. Plenty of free parking is available directly across from the garden entrance.

Check back here for updates on blooms and when they're at their peak.

7-day forecast for central NC

• Saturday: Partly cloudy, breezy and warm. Highs in the low to mid 80s.
• Sunday: Partly cloudy with chance of rain. Highs in the upper 70s-80.
• Monday: It's a WRAL Weather Alert Day. Cloudy and windy with showers/storms around. High of 82 degrees.
• Tuesday: Partly cloudy, breezy and cooler. High of 68 degrees.
• Wednesday: Still cloudy. High around 74.
• Thursday: Partly cloudy and warmer. High around 84.
• Friday: Even warmer with a stray afternoon storm. Highs around 86.

Statewide burn ban

The rain band coming over the weekend may be very helpful for those fighting fires in the western part of the state.

The North Carolina Forest Service issued a ban on all open burning and has suspended all burning permits statewide until further notice.

There are active wildfires in Polk and Caldwell Counties. Hundreds of acres continued to burn in the Green River Game Land on Saturday.

“It is spring wildfire season in North Carolina, and we are seeing wildfire activity increase due to dry conditions,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “With these ongoing conditions, a statewide burn ban is necessary to reduce the risk of wildfires starting and spreading quickly."

Critical fire conditions – a combination of winds gusting to 35 mph, low humidity and warm temperatures – were forecast for Saturday across the state.

Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in all 100 counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. No new permits will be issued until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.