Temperatures warm but it may not feel like it

We've reached that point in winter where climatologically we should be entering the coldest part of the season, but temperatures this week will be anything but cold.  Blocking high pressure to the south will keep any storms moving out of Canada the next few days to the north in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  This means temperatures will continue to warm as what remaining snow is on the ground continues to melt.  Highs the next several days will warm well into the 40's; almost 20° above average! 

Cut-off low pressure in the southwest will move northeast through the middle of the week bringing with it warmth but also the threat for rain, not snow, by Thursday and Friday.  Despite the rain falling temperatures will continue to warm with a strong southerly wind.  The mild weather continues through the beginning of the weekend until a strong cold front sweeps through Sunday.  This will drop temperatures closer to average by Sunday afternoon.

While mostly sunny skies will be found this afternoon the gusty southwest wind will have an opposite affect on the wind chill.  Temperatures today will rise into the upper 30s, but a southerly wind gusting as high as 25-30 mph will cause the wind chill to remain in the upper 20s and low 30s.  So another day to bundle up!