Warm weather in December? That will certainly be the case for the third major holiday shopping weekend of the year. While things could take a more unsettled turn by the beginning of the work week, there is still no sign of snow in our forecast.

Discussion: Some upper level ridging has built into the area since yesterday. There is weak high pressure at the surface but some trapped lower level moisture is keeping a persistent stratus cloud deck in our area. A shortwave trough approaches the area tonight, likely just enhancing cloud coverage. Behind a warm front Thursday night, large scale southwesterly flow is expected to develop late week into this weekend with high pressure building off the southeast coast. Uncharacteristic warmth underneath a building eastern upper level ridge will be the trend into the weekend. Early next week the weather will take a stormier turn again as a trough digs in across the deep southwest and then lifts up through the great lakes region along with a developing low pressure system.

Tonight: Mostly Cloudy, very low chance of a scattered shower. Temperatures not falling very much with lows in the mid 40’s.

Thursday: Cloudy with some breaks of sun by afternoon. Warmer, highs mid 50’s.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, lows mid 40’s

Friday: Sun and clouds with Highs upper 50’s

Friday night: partly cloudy, lows mid-upper 40’s.

Saturday: Mostly Sunny, high’s near 60.