Bitter cold stretch continues

Arctic air has its grip on the area with a bitter cold stretch that will continue through the rest of the week.

Temperatures on Tuesday will finally climb above zero, just barely, with highs in the low-to-mid single digits. It’ll be the first time temperatures have been above zero since last Saturday afternoon.

Temperatures will gradually climb into the upper single digits on Wednesday and Thursday before a reinforcing shot of colder air knocks temperatures back down to the lower single digits on Friday and Saturday.

Sunday will be a transition day as the Arctic cold finally lifts out of the area and will be replaced by mild Pacific air as highs climb into the upper teens and lower 20s.

Temperatures are expected to be well above average heading into next week with highs in the low-to-mid 30s.

Overall, the weather pattern will be fairly quiet. A clipper system will dive southeast through the northern plains into southern Iowa on Thursday night which may bring a chance of light snow or flurries to areas south of I-90 with little to no accumulation expected.

Otherwise another system by the middle of next week may bring some rain and/or snow to the area, however it being more than a week away, several uncertainties remain.