Weather
Raleigh, NC Weather: Weekend Cooldown Arrives October 24
RALEIGH, NC — Residents across Raleigh and North Carolina's Triangle region can expect a noticeable temperature change heading into Saturday, October 24, as afternoon highs drop from the lower 70s Thu
By Erin Vale · 2026-10-21T08:28:26.656Z
RALEIGH, NC — Residents across Raleigh and North Carolina's Triangle region can expect a noticeable temperature change heading into Saturday, October 24, as afternoon highs drop from the lower 70s Thursday into the lower 60s by the weekend. Clear skies will also allow overnight temperatures to fall into the lower 40s, bringing chilly mornings despite an extended stretch of sunshine.
According to the National Weather Service forecast for Raleigh, Wednesday will be sunny with a high near 71 degrees, followed by a slightly warmer Thursday reaching 73 degrees. Temperatures will then decline Friday and Saturday, with Saturday's forecast high near 63 degrees — approximately 10 degrees cooler than Thursday.
Weekend Cooldown Brings Chilly Mornings The approaching temperature change will be most noticeable during the early morning and evening hours.
Overnight lows are expected to reach approximately 42 degrees Wednesday night and 43 degrees Thursday and Friday nights.
Although those readings remain above freezing, residents heading outdoors early may want jackets or additional layers.
The forecast also indicates relatively light winds through Friday, with no significant precipitation expected during the five day period.
For communities across Wake County and the broader Raleigh Durham metropolitan area, the cooler weekend pattern could provide comfortable afternoon conditions for outdoor activities while keeping mornings noticeably chilly.
Five Day Raleigh Weather Outlook Wednesday 10/21: Sunny, with a high near 71 degrees. North winds of 7 to 9 mph. Clear overnight, with a low near 42 degrees and light north winds.
Thursday 10/22: Sunny, with a high near 73 degrees. North winds of 3 to 7 mph. Clear Thursday night, with a low near 43 degrees and calm winds becoming northerly around 5 mph after midnight.
Friday 10/23: Sunny, with a high near 66 degrees. Northeast winds of 7 to 9 mph. Clear overnight, with a low near 43 degrees.
Saturday 10/24: Sunny, with a high near 63 degrees. Clear Saturday night, with a low near 46 degrees.
Sunday 10/25: Sunny, with a high near 67 degrees. Mostly clear overnight, with a low near 46 degrees.
NOAA Outlook Points Toward Warmer Conditions Looking beyond the weekend, the NOAA Climate Prediction Center's eight to 14 day temperature outlook, issued October 20, favors above normal temperatures across North Carolina from October 28 through November 3.
The Raleigh area falls within a region showing approximately a 40% to 50% probability of above normal temperatures during that period.
The precipitation outlook also favors above normal precipitation across central North Carolina, although the probability signal is weaker, generally around 33% to 40%.
These outlooks do not indicate that rain will occur every day or establish specific rainfall totals.
For the immediate weekend, the forecast remains favorable for outdoor activities, with sunny afternoons and no rain indicated in the supplied daily forecast.
Temperatures are expected to recover to around 67 degrees Sunday and 71 degrees Monday, suggesting Saturday's cooler afternoon will be relatively brief.
Residents should monitor updated National Weather Service forecasts as the weekend approaches, particularly if planning early morning activities when temperatures will be considerably cooler than afternoon readings.