November, the final month of meteorological autumn, is now in the record books and it was another mild month.  November marked the 12th out of the past 17 months Portland recorded an average temperature above seasonal normals. Only April this year and October 2015 have been colder than average.

You know it’s been a dry year, actually a couple and while the rain was welcomed, we still need more.   Today is a great day for early December. It would actually be a nice day for late October with a westerly wind, increasing sunshine and very mild air.  Highs will range 50-55 this afternoon, well above average.

Temperatures will be declining over the coming days as we lose a bit of warmth each day.  By the time Sunday arrives it will feel very chilly, but still be dry.  A look ahead to Sunday and the Patriots game gives a temperature of around 40 degrees with partial sunshine.  While it will not be as warm tomorrow, the core of the cold winter chill remains out west.

Colder air will filter into New England over the coming days, but the core of the cold stays west and north of Maine

Between today and Sunday the weather just appears to be dry.  There will be a blend of clouds and sunshine, but no precipitation after the past two days of rain.

If you still need to clean up your yard, the next 5 days should provide ample opportunity. Mornings will be cold, but all areas should go above freezing each afternoon, allowing for raking and putting things away before the snow eventually arrives.

It appears another storm will move through the center of the nation during the middle of next week.  This will perhaps bring another round of rain to coastal areas and snow likely changing to rain inland.

Looking further ahead into the second week of December, it looks like typically cold air around here with bitter cold arctic air out west.

If this pattern continues through the month it won’t be a December to remember, just one pretty ho-hum average.  Snowfall will likely ramp up mid to late month.  More on that in the coming days.

You can follow my weather updates on Twitter at @growingwisdom.