Raleigh, N.C. — Another day of warm temperatures is on tap for the Triangle before a cold front moves into the region Tuesday, a reminder that winter is on the way.

Monday will cap off a weekend of mild, spring-like weather that saw temperatures in the 70s and a sudden rise in humidity that had some residents switching on their air conditioners overnight.

Temperatures were in the mid-60s Monday morning with humidity at 93 percent, a result of overnight showers.

The high Monday will be 73 degrees.

“Our skies are cloudy and it will remain cloudy through the rest of the day,” WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said. “We’ll see a nice warm afternoon as well.”

But a cold front is on the way that will bring a marked change in the weather, she said. The front, which is moving in from the west, will arrive Tuesday and settle over the region, dropping temperatures into the mid-50s for the remainder of the week.

“It’s going to stall over us and keep things unsettled and continue to bring us a chance of rain,” Gardner said.

That rain will be spotty, however.

“Unfortunately, we’re not going to add a lot in the rain gauges – and we need the rain,” Gardner said.

Last week, 65 of North Carolina’s 100 counties were declared to be in moderate drought. State officials said the central areas, including the Triad and western parts of the Triangle, are the most affected.

Tuesday’s high is expected to be 59 degrees, followed by a high of 53 degrees on Wednesday. A high of 60 is forecast for the weekend.

The first official day of winter is Dec. 21.