70 Degree Temperature Swing!

I don't believe you can complain about any temperatures that are at least above zero after the past two days! I've managed the trek to and from campus over the past three days, approximately six miles, in an average temperature around -15 degrees and a wind chill near -30!! The past two nights (Wednesday and Thursday) have had lows ranging from the mid teens to the 20s and even 30s, below zero! This type of cold has not been felt in 13 years across the state of Iowa, and thankfully it is finally coming to an end. While chilly today, temperature will slowly rise through the day and even through most of the night and lead us into temperatures that are some 60 to 70 degrees warmer than last nights' lows.

A weak disturbance is clipping parts of the state today leading to a few snow flurries and the like. Highs today under mainly cloudy skies will still manage to be above zero from the single digits to near 20 from northeast to southwest. Tonights' lows will be right around the same values and temperatures either hold steady or slowly rise overnight. Saturday's highs will be in the mid 20s to mid 30s from north to south across the state and will continue to hover around those same highs on both Sunday and Monday. Lows over the weekend will range from the upper single digits to near 20 from northeast to southwest.

Into next week we'll see nice westerly winds that will create some downsloping for much of the plains states. This warm wind will allow much of the snow across southwest Iowa to begin melting and maybe even disappear altogether by mid-week. Highs on Tuesday and Wednesday will be in the upper 20s, 30s and lower 40s from northeast to southwest across the state. Lows will be in the teens for the state for both nights as well... Our next storm system doesn't look to come into the area until Thursday next week, so enjoy the upcoming warm weather!!