RALEIGH — The winter weather system that has caused freezing rain and snow throughout much of the state Sunday is moving out of the TV5 viewing area, and temperatures are expected to be at or above freezing on Monday.

The worst of the precipitation is over late Sunday afternoon as the storm moved to the east past Rocky Mount, Wilson, Goldsboro and Fayetteville.

Temperatures reached between 29 and 34 degrees Sunday throughout the TV5 viewing area, and remained steady throughout the day. The high temperature for the day at RDU was 32 degrees.

Temperatures are supposed to remain steady, at or just below freezing, through the night as clouds stay in place.

Saturday night and into Sunday, a light powdery snow fell across the Triangle. That snow was easily brushed from cars and had posed no serious problems to drivers. Then, about 6 a.m., the weather shifted to freezing rain.

Weather over the eastern Piedmont and coastal plain Sunday ranged from overcast to rain, freezing rain to snow.

TheDepartment of Transportationis advising people to stay at home if they do not have to go outside. Those who must drive are advised to use extreme caution when traveling on the highways, to make way slowly and to be especially careful going over bridges.

"We are recommending motorists stay off the roads if ast all possible," says state Transportation Secreteary David McCoy. "Our crews are working first to clear highways that carry the heavies traffic."

Road crews are spreading tons of salt and sand on highways and maintenance crews have been working around the clock to make the highways safer for motorists who must travel.

McCoy says DOT is concentrating first on interstates, then major U.S. and N.C. routes and then secondary roads.

About 7:45 a.m., Durham police handled a one-car accident at the juncture of I-40 and Highway 55. A car had flipped onto its side. There were no early reports of injuries.

Generally, major roads in the Triangle are wet, with some slick spots. Secondary roads have more ice.

Meteorogolgist Elizabeth Gardner says some more cold air is on the way for Wednesday, but not a lot of precipitation is showing up on the radar. Long-range computer models show some warming next week. ,Stephanie HawcoandJohn McDonnell,John ConwayandKelly Gardner