Unsettled weather to stay put through Tuesday as Ana moves out

What's left of Ana will push across the North Carolina-Virginia border by late morning Monday, allowing sunshine to return to parts of the Triangle by early afternoon.

"We're seeing some blue skies back to the west, and we'll continue to see that trend through lunchtime," Gardner said. "Expect some sunshine this afternoon, but don't be surprised to see a pop-up thunderstorm, either."

Rain showers or thunderstorms won't be widespread Monday afternoon, but the moisture-packed atmosphere will make them possible. High temperatures Monday will climb into the mid-80s, above normal for mid-May.

The above-normal trend will continue on Tuesday, when afternoon highs could reach 90 degrees for the first time since September.

Tuesday afternoon, a powerful cold front that has generated several rounds of severe weather – snow in parts of Colorado and tornadoes in several Plain states – will push through the central part of North Carolina. Gardner said the system will weaken considerably before reaching the Triangle, leaving the area with only a slight chance of severe weather.

"This is a strong system, but it won't be as much of a threat when it arrives in our area," she said. "Storms that form Tuesday afternoon could have strong, gusty winds, but we won't have much risk of tornadoes or hail."

After the front pushes through, the Triangle will dry out and cool off for the second half of the work week. Overnight lows will return to the upper 50s and low 60s, and daytime highs will be in the upper 70s to near 80 degrees Wednesday through Friday.