Rain to taper off, return by mid-week

While much of the measurable rain will be in the eastern and southeastern portions of the state, spotty showers made for unpleasant conditions as far west as Burlington and Asheboro.

The rain should begin to taper off after noon, WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said. 

Clouds will keep temperatures cool throughout the day, with highs in the Triangle topping out in the mid to upper 40s. 

After the skies clear, Tuesday should be sunny with high temperatures back near 60, Gardner said.

Lows early in the week will hover around 40 degrees, as much as 10 degrees warmer than normal for early January. 

A cold front dumping rain over Texas Monday will make its way to central North Carolina Wednesday, bringing with it a chance for heavier rain that could total an inch in some places.

"We'll have a lull in the action Tuesday after today's front moves out, but those chances return Wednesday and we could see some much heavier precipitation," Gardner said.  

Temperatures Wednesday and Thursday will top out in the upper 50s to low 60s across much of the area. 

Skies will clear Thursday ahead of the next winter air mass, which will drop high temperatures back into the low to mid 40s Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Lows late in the week will dip back into the upper 20s.