As of Tuesday, the average high so far this month is 40.5 degrees.
While December has seen relatively normal temperatures, highs are expected to be in the 50s for most of the remaining days this year.
Matthew Campbell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, said the first week of December saw some chillier temperatures, which likely kept the average high on the lower side this month.
However, with highs mostly forecasted to be in the 50s compared to normal highs in the upper 30s, that will likely change.
Campbell said he expects the unusually warm temperatures will bump the average high above normal for December.
The warmest days will be Saturday and Sunday, with highs in the upper 50s.
Even though it will be unusually warm, highs likely won’t get close to the record high temperatures.
The record warm high for each day in December is at least 60 degrees. The warmest record high recorded in December was 72 degrees on Dec. 2, 1982 and Dec. 6, 1998, according to the NWS.
The warmest temperature recorded so far this December was 58 degrees on Dec. 16. The coldest was 13 degrees on Dec. 2 and 6.
Low temperatures have also been slightly cooler than normal. The low is normally 27.16 degrees compared to an average low of 26.1 as of Tuesday, according to the NWS.
Precipitation has also been on the light side this month but could also surpass the normal amount with some year-end showers.
December normally gets 3.05 inches of precipitation, according to the NWS. As of Tuesday, the region has had 2.17 inches.
Rounds of showers are possible from Friday through Sunday.
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