Unsettled and cold weather is forecast to continue Thursday before a shot of warmth fuels thunderstorm chances on Friday.
Highs Thursday are forecast only in the upper 40s, about 10-15 degrees colder than normal. Showers and drizzle are possible throughout the day with otherwise cloudy skies. Only light rainfall accumulations, about a quarter of an inch, are expected.
A warm front is forecast to arrive Friday morning, expected to quickly raise temperatures from the upper 40s in the early morning to the upper 70s by the afternoon. But the warmth isn't expected to last long -- a cold front is forecast to follow close behind the warm front, bringing rain showers and possibly severe storms ahead of it and along its boundary.
Severe storms are possible from the mid-Atlantic to the Carolinas Friday afternoon and evening. Hail and damaging winds are the chief risks associated with the storm chances, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
For the weekend, sunshine and seasonable conditions are forecast, with highs in the mid-60s.