Raleigh, N.C. — Sunny skies and warmer temperatures are on the way to central North Carolina after Superstorm Sandy brought cold, rain and wind from the mountains to the coast over the past three days.

WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel said a band of light, spotty rain that lingered over the area Tuesday would make way for partly cloudy skies and warming temperatures in the mid 50s on Wednesday.

By Thursday, abundant sunshine and highs in the high 50s and low 60s will return for the weekend.

"It's going to be a slow, gradual process, but better things are definitely on the way," Fishel said. "If we're just patient, then things will improve."

The remnants of Sandy swirled over southwestern Pennsylvania Tuesday evening, dumping snow on the mountains of West Virginia and parts of North Carolina, and kicking up wind gusts between 18 and 23 mph throughout North Carolina's central region.

Sustained winds throughout the viewing area also remained fairly strong, but it was nothing compared to the storm-spawned gales of Sunday and Monday.

Temperatures didn't climb out of the 40s Tuesday afternoon, with wind and dampness making it feel even colder.