For the first full week of December, it sure won't have the feel of Christmas in central Illinois.

A sunny and mild week is ahead, trending with the conclusion of last week. Chris Miller with the National Weather Service in Lincoln indicates temperatures will be in the 40s and there will be an abundance of sunshine.

Warm and dry air is lingering over parts of the Midwest and Miller points out this often means storms that roll in are skipping either way north or south, leaving central Illinois in a continued dry pattern.

La Nina continues to strengthen and Miller notes this type of weather pattern we are experiencing is very much in line with a La Nina trend. Another driving force in these dry and mild conditions is the drought, which he points out can often 'feed-off' itself. 

According to Miller, if you're hoping for a white Christmas, that too is looking unlikely as warm and dry conditions are looking to persist into the first of the year. He notes though, hope is not all lost as there is always the possibility of an isolated snowfall.