Monday saw a second day of record high temperatures across the Twin Cities metro with the mercury reaching 54 degrees — soaring past the previous Christmas record set more than 100 years ago.

The last time temperatures on Christmas were above 40 was in 1922 when the metro saw high of 51 degrees, according to Eric Ahasic, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Twin Cities.

It was the second day high-temperature records were shattered in the Twin Cities.

On Christmas Eve day, a high of 55 degrees was recorded, breaking the previous record of 46 degrees in 1957, Ahasic said.

Temperatures are expected to begin to drop beginning Tuesday morning, he said. Rain will continue on Tuesday as high temperatures drop to the low 40s. With the lower temperatures dropping a bit more at night, the metro might see some of the rain turn into light snow or slush Tuesday night, he said.

This change marks a gradual cooling trend with highs in the upper 30s expected on Wednesday. That will drop a bit more with highs in the low 30s expected for the New Year’s weekend, Ahasic said.

Those low 30s will still be above average for this time of year, which is about 25 degrees, he said.

After the light rain or snow showers on Tuesday night and maybe Wednesday, the forecast calls for dry weather into early January, he said.

The Twin Cities joined much of the country that missed out on a white Christmas. Meteorologists attribute the lack of snow and warmer temperatures to El Niño.

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