Forecast Last Updated at Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 2:27PM

Spring Began at 1:32PM

After a LONG winter, we celebrate the beginning of Spring today. Spring will have sprung in fine fashion with pleasant temperatures and full sun. The White Legs Warning is in effect today for unsightly skin, long buried under layers of fleece.
Scattered clouds will develop tonight, and skies will become cloudy Sunday. Rain will develop late Sunday afternoon with heavier rain coming Sunday night. Some thunder will be possible Sunday night; rain could be heavy at times (up to 1" of rain possible). The "March to Spring" is a bumpy one--this year will be no exception. Temperatures will turn cooler Monday with clouds and rain showers. Cool weather and clouds will continue into Tuesday morning, but the sun will return Tuesday. Temperatures will rebound to pleasant levels Wednesday. These fast changes are "Classic Spring Weather" in the Southern Appalachians.

Saturday Hi: 74 Lo: 47 Lots of sunshine; More 5-Golfball weather; SW wind 5-10 mph

Sunday Hi: 64 Lo: 50 Clouding-up; Rain developing by late afternoon, heavier at night with thunder possible; Light wind becoming SE 5-15

Monday Hi: 55 Lo: 35 Plenty of clouds; Scattered showers; Noticeably cooler; South wind 5-15 mph becoming West at night

Tuesday Hi: 60 Lo: 37 Some early clouds, but becoming mostly sunny by afternoon; Not quite as cool

Wednesday Hi: 68 Lo: 42 Plenty of sunshine; Pleasant

Further Out

Thursday - Scattered clouds; Quite nice; High in the upper 60s; Low in the mid 40s
Friday - Cloudy; Showers; High in the mid 60s; Low in the mid 40s

Forecast Discussion

First and foremost... enjoy a beautiful beginning to Spring today with high pressure in control.

But...Changes are looming. Skies will become cloudy Sunday, and rain will develop by late afternoon. This is associated with an upper-level low that will move out of Oklahoma today to NW Alabama by late Sunday, then directly across Western North Carolina Monday night. This system will lift a slug of Gulf Moisture across the region Sunday night with a period of heavy rain possible including thunder. 1" of rain will be possible right along the Blue Ridge.

This upper-level low carries with it a pocket of cold air. As a result, Monday will have cooler temperatures. Skies will be mostly cloudy Monday with scattered showers. Even a few wet snowflakes will be possible at higher elevations along the Blue Ridge and in the Brushies Monday night. Tuesday will begin cloudy and cool, but the sun will return with milder weather by afternoon.

In classic Spring fashion, cold will become warmer quickly Wednesday. Expect pleasant weather Wednesday and Thursday with scattered clouds. The next system (a similar upper-level low with less cold air to work with) will arrive Friday with clouds and rain showers.

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