THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, December 4, 1995               TAG: 9512040035
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   35 lines

WEATHER'S SETTLING DOWN FOR A BIT RECENT UPS, DOWNS WILL SMOOTH OUT TO A STRING OF 50S TO 60S.

The weather roller coaster is hitting a straightaway.

So, after a week of swapping overcoats for shorts, again and again, as the seasons switched day to day, folks can look forward to some stability, with highs in the upper 50s to mid-60s.

Temperatures have fluctuated as much as 40 degrees from day to day as a series of back-to-back cold and warm fronts passed through Hampton Roads.

Sunday brought warmth as temperatures hit 70 at the National Weather Service office at Norfolk International Airport after an overnight low of 34 degrees.

The normal high at this time of year is 56. But Sunday's high - although 14 degrees higher - was well short of the record 80 degrees set in 1991.

A weak cold front approaching the region from the northwest Sunday night is expected to cross the coast today. High pressure should build in from the north tonight and Tuesday.

Still, temperatures are expected to remain somewhat warmer than normal.

Today should be mostly sunny with a high in the upper 50s along the shoreline and between 60 and 65 inland.

Tonight is expected to be clear with a low around 35.

Tuesday should be a repeat of today, and similar conditions are expected in the extended forecast for Wednesday and Thursday. by CNB