Last week was essentially summer: We had two days at or above 70 degrees and three days with temperatures between 21-24 degrees above average. Um, that is pretty unprecedented! Basically, we had the opposite of the Polar Vortex that has crushed us with Arctic chill the past few years. We’ll call it the “tropical surge.”

This week we get a taste of winter reality. We start the week wet and still fairly warm with temperatures in the 50s. It will, however, switch back to winter for the weekend. Because our bodies are not adjusted to the cold air like they normally would be, this shot of cold will feel especially cold. In reality though, it will just be typical December cold. Temperatures will be in the upper 30s and lower 40s for highs. Don’t worry though, the warmth will return back as we progress into Christmas week. Hello tropical surge, again.

Wednesday is the best day of the week. It won’t be terribly cold and there will be some sunshine. It will be closer to seasonable; high of 54, low of 43.

Thursday is the wettest day of the week. A strong system will move through with a few hours of heavy rain.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday will bring us back to true winter-like weather. On Saturday, temperatures will not leave the 30s and, with a stiff breeze, it will feel like the 20s.

We start the new work-week on Monday with a warmer trend. It will still be chilly, but the coldest air will be easing. Watch for clouds moving in late at night and temperatures actually rising overnight.

On Tuesday we need to watch for showers coming in from the west. The warmth will start surging back into the region, setting us up for a warm and wet Christmas week. Sorry, no white Christmas this year for just about everybody on the East Coast.

The weather winner of the week is Wednesday; the weather loser is Saturday.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @TheSpiritNews for daily Riverwards weather and forecast updates. Facebook: Accu-Reggie, Twitter: AccuReggie.