Raleigh, N.C. — Although superstorm Sandy made landfall in New Jersey Monday evening and continues to move away from North Carolina on its trek through Pennsylvania and eventually New York, the state will continue to feel the storm's rain and wind throughout the day on Tuesday. 

Temperatures won't make it out of the 40s Tuesday afternoon, and gusty winds will make temperatures feel even colder. 

"(Tuesday) will be the nastiest day this week," WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel said. 

Rain chances will be higher earlier in the day, especially for counties north of the Triangle. At 5 a.m., rain was falling both south and north of the Raleigh area. 

Winds will be an issue again as well, gusting from 40 to 45 mph at times, Fishel said. 

In western North Carolina, forecasters said Tuesday morning that another 4 to 6 inches of snow is possible in higher elevations Tuesday. Many areas saw up to 5 inches of snow Monday. 

A winter storm warning continues in effect until 6 a.m. Wednesday for Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Watauga, Yancey and northern Jackson counties.

Conditions will slowly improve beginning Wednesday, when partly cloudy skies are expected to return to central North Carolina and accompany warming temperatures in the mid 50s. 

"After we get through Tuesday, the warming will be gradual through the week," Fishel said. "Skies will be bright and sunny on Thursday and nice into the weekend."

Thursday will be the warmest day of the work week, with temperatures topping out about 60 degrees. Abundant sunshine will return on Friday to end the work week and start the weekend. 

Highs in the upper 50s and low 60s are on tap both Saturday and Sunday.