Temperatures have soared into the mid-to-upper 70s across the Piedmont and Foothills to kick off March’s final weekend. You likely won’t find anyone complaining after the pleasant week we’ve had, but we desperately need some rain to combat the fires, drought, and high pollen levels plaguing the Carolinas as of late. Our fortunes finally begin to shift heading into Sunday as an expansive rainmaking system approaches from the west. Scattered showers will push into the mountains and Foothills by the early afternoon, spreading eastward into the evening and overnight hours. While the severe threat is low to close out the weekend, a few heavier storms may bring heavy rain and 30-40 mph wind gusts. A level 2 out of 5 severe risk has been posted for the Carolinas on Monday. Any straggling showers and storms from Sunday will likely fade by Monday morning, but the clouds will stick around ahead of a sharp cold front. Short-range models are still in some disagreement about how much moisture will be available for this system as it reaches the WCCB Charlotte viewing area, but we’ll still need to watch for strong-to-severe storms in the afternoon and evening. All severe modes, including damaging gusty winds and tornadoes, are still on the table for the WCCB Charlotte viewing area. The sunshine returns on Tuesday ahead of a very warm, but unsettled pattern moving into the back half of the week. Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Seasonably mild. Low: 62°. Wind: S 5-10. Sunday: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and storms. High: 75°. Wind: SW 5-15. Gusts: 20+ Sunday Night: Overcast with a few showers. Low: 64°. Wind: SW 5-15. Monday: A stray shower or storm early, then scattered storms later in the day. A few storms may be severe. High: 72°. SW 10-20. Gusts: 25+ ...read more read less