Why is it 70 degrees in December?
DURHAM (WTVD) -- The unseasonably warm weather is catching many people off guard as we head into the Christmas season.
The official high at RDU Saturday was 75 degrees, a whopping 21 degrees above the average high temperature of 54.
The mercury climbed even higher in Cumberland County. The Fayetteville Airport measured a temperature of 78 degrees shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Despite the warm temperatures, no records were broken today. The previous record of 79 was set at RDU in 2007.
Why the warm up? Don't blame global warming. A large area of high pressure is extending over the southeast, bringing us dry conditions, and southerly winds. Those winds are tapping into a much warmer air mass, which should linger through Monday.
A cold front will arrive on Monday, triggering rain by the end of the day. It will also deliver slightly cooler temperatures for the middle part of next week.
