ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Warm, springlike weather is expected to greet Western North Carolina through the Easter weekend, with forecasters calling for mild temperatures and only periodic chances of rain before a cooler pattern arrives early next week.

According to the National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg, daytime highs will climb into the upper 70s and lower 80s through Saturday, running well above seasonal averages and giving the region a more early-summer feel heading into Easter celebrations.

A few light showers are possible Friday, mainly southeast of a line from Greenwood, South Carolina, to Charlotte, but most areas are expected to remain dry.

Rain chances increase late Saturday and into Easter Sunday as a cold front moves through the region. Showers and a few thunderstorms are likely at times Sunday, particularly before the afternoon, though forecasters say the risk of severe weather or flooding remains low.

Despite the unsettled conditions, temperatures on Easter Sunday are still expected to reach the mid to upper 60s, cooling later in the day as the front passes.

Looking beyond the holiday, a sharp change in the weather pattern is expected. Forecasters warn that a colder air mass could bring frost or even freezing temperatures to parts of the North Carolina mountains, Foothills and northwest Piedmont by Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Residents with outdoor plants or early spring gardens are advised to monitor forecasts and take precautions if necessary.

Overall, the forecast suggests a warm and somewhat unsettled Easter weekend, followed by a brief return to colder conditions more typical of late winter than mid-April.