NORTH CAROLINA -- Saturday morning's stubborn cloud cover is expected to eventually give way to increasing sunshine across North Carolina Saturday afternoon, and mostly sunny skies are forecast for the second half of the weekend.

With more sunshine, will come warmer temperatures. 

Friday's highs were confined to the 70s for much of the state despite starting out the day in the low 60s due to the cloud cover. In fact, some areas north and west of the Triangle never even made it out of the 60s all day . 

Saturday will be warmer with highs reaching the low to mid 80s across central and eastern NC.  Western North Carolina, including the mountains, should reach the mid and upper 70s for highs.

A slight chance for showers is forecast Saturday for the coast, mainly north of Jacksonville. 

A weakening and departing area of low pressure sitting offshore will help to steer moisture onshore mainly in the form of clouds Saturday. 

Surface high pressure to our southwest will help to erode the cloud cover across the rest of the state through the weekend.

A cold front will move into the region Monday, triggering scattered showers and storms.  Behind the front, sunny and more fall-like weather will return for the rest of the week.