Not exactly. But temperatures set a record today and could continue to do so through Thursday as a flow of warm air moves across the region.

The temperature hit a high of 80.1 degrees at 2 p.m. today at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, according to the National Weather Service. That breaks the old record of 76 degrees set Dec. 10, 1976.

The Weather Service is forecasting highs of 78 degrees Tuesday, 80 degrees Wednesday and 75 degrees Thursday. The current records are 72 degrees on Dec. 11, 1971; 74 degrees on Dec. 12, 1996; and 75 degrees Dec. 13, 1956.

The normal highs for this time of year are about 54 or 55 degrees.

This week's warm temperatures are courtesy of a strong subtropical ridge centered just off the east coast of Florida, which is likely to strengthen over the next couple of days, the National Weather Service says.

The ridging is forecast to extend from near Bermuda across the Southeast and over the Gulf of Mexico. This will allow a strong surface high to become anchored near Bermuda and expand westward over the Carolinas. The flow around the surface high will bring our record warmth.

As for the all-important matter of rain, the forecast does not appear hopeful. The Weather Service, however, does foresee a 30 percent chance of measurable precipitation on Thursday.