Seesawing temperatures ahead

Raleigh, N.C. — Temperatures will bounce between unseasonably mild highs and cold lows, letting North Carolinians experience "a big difference" in weather over "just a couple days," WRAL meteorologist Mike Moss said.

"It's winter time in North Carolina. That's what you end up with," Moss said. "We see temperatures that swing to the high side of normal, swing to the low side of normal, back-and-forth."

Temperatures on Saturday reached 57 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Most of the viewing area saw temperatures in the mid to upper-50s. Overnight was expected to be clear with temperatures dipping into the mid and upper-20s.

But by Sunday, temperatures will have dropped more than 20 degrees from Friday, reaching only into the upper 30s.

They'll swing back up into the high 40s to start the work week Monday, and then, "We dip right back down into the 30s" Tuesday, Moss said.

Along for the ride will be some chances of precipitation during the next couple days.

On Sunday, an area of low pressure will hang along the frontal boundary south and east of North Carolina, while a high-pressure system north of the state pushes in cold air. Some computer models place the low pressure farther north and west. "If so, we get some precipitation later in the day and tomorrow night," Moss said.

“As we head in the overnight hours Sunday into Monday that moisture will become evident. Some of the rain could start off as mixed precipitation,” WRAL meteorologist Kim Deaner said.

A hazardous-weather outlook from the National Weather Service cautions that patches of a light mix of sleet, rain and freezing rain could develop, mostly east of U.S. Highway 1. The timing and strength of the system, though, remains uncertain.

Tuesday will also get a shot at precipitation. And that day will be cold, with a high around 38 degrees.

"Right now, I'm leaning toward cold rain Tuesday, but we'll have to watch for some kind of a wintry mixture," Moss said.