Sunny skies precede cold front

"It will be seasonably cool throughout the day today," Moss said. "Lots of sun."

That sun will be replaced by clouds late in the day Monday ahead of a cold front. Lows Monday night will fall back into the mid 30s. 

A storm system that has been parked over west Texas for days will finally move east late in the day Monday, bringing with it potentially an inch of rain in some parts and warmer temperatures, Moss said. Highs Tuesday will climb back up to near 60. 

"High clouds will filter in during the afternoon, Moss said. "We'll have a sprinkle early in the day Tuesday and then some heavier showers during the midday and afternoon hours. Some areas in the southeastern tip of the state could even hear a little thunder."

Clouds will begin to clear out late Tuesday, making way for sunny and cool weather for the rest of the work week, Moss said. 

"We'll be right around normal," he said of the temperatures. "So far things look pretty good for the weekend. 

Highs Wednesday and Thursday will climb into the low to mid 50s with lows in the low to mid 30s. Temperatures will warm slightly late in the week, with highs inching back toward 60 degrees. Lows will stay in the low to mid 30s. 

New Year's Eve will see a high of about 58 degrees, and New Year's Day will be in the mid-50s.

The temperate weather is a far cry from the extremes that have been seen on and around the holidays at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in the past.

It's been colder, though. On Christmas Day 1983, the mercury started at 4 degrees and didn't get above 19 degrees.

On the other hand, Christmas 1955 reached a balmy 75 degrees.

Five years ago, a record amount of rain – 1.51 inches – fell.