ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A stretch of springlike weather is settling across much of North Carolina, bringing the warmest temperatures in weeks before rain chances return briefly midweek and a more unsettled pattern develops heading into the weekend.

High pressure building over the Southeast on Tuesday is pushing afternoon temperatures well above normal, with highs climbing into the upper 60s and lower 70s across lower elevations. Some communities east of the mountains, including the foothills and parts of the Piedmont, could see temperatures reach the low 70s because of downsloping winds, according to the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg.

Skies will be partly to mostly sunny Tuesday, with dry and breezy conditions continuing through the evening. Southwest winds will increase ahead of an approaching cold front, with gusts generally ranging from 15 to 25 mph. Higher elevations in southwest North Carolina could see isolated gusts up to 30 mph.

Rain chances increase late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as the cold front moves through the region. Light rainfall is expected, with most areas receiving minimal accumulation. The highest totals — between a quarter-inch and a half-inch — are forecast near the North Carolina-Tennessee border and at elevations above 4,000 feet. Elsewhere, rainfall amounts are expected to remain under a tenth of an inch.

Dry conditions are expected to return by Wednesday afternoon as high pressure builds back into the region. Clouds will gradually clear, though breezy northwest winds will linger through the day. Despite slightly cooler highs compared to Tuesday, temperatures on Wednesday are still expected to remain 7 to 13 degrees above normal.

Forecasters are also monitoring a small chance of a light wintry mix late Thursday night into early Friday, primarily across portions of the North Carolina mountains.

Confidence remains low, and many areas may see no precipitation at all, with cold rain more likely outside the higher elevations.

Looking ahead to the weekend, a stronger low-pressure system is expected to bring more widespread precipitation. Most of Western North Carolina is forecast to see rain, though a wintry mix cannot be ruled out in parts of the mountains and northern foothills.

Highs are expected to remain in the low to mid-50s by late week, with overnight lows dropping into the upper 20s and low 30s under clearer skies.