With sun expected across the Tuesday, tradition holds that we are in for six more weeks of winter. Forecasts say that superstition is likely to evolve into a reality. Our winter has been quite mild, with both December and January posting temperature surpluses of over 5 degrees. The season has yet to produce a subzero reading, and there have been just 11 days with subfreezing highs. Above-normal temps are to persist through Thursday, when a weather system brings rain or snow to the area. Thursday night any rain will change to snow as an opening salvo of polar air arrives. The pattern shift associated with our late week polar plunge will not be fleeting; rather it will likely be reinforced by a second blast of arctic air Saturday. Long-range forecasts further suggest subnormal temps will dominate through February.