Parts of central Iowa may see high temperatures nearing 60 degrees this afternoon, which is almost twice as warm as normal. Meteorologist Rod Donovan, at the National Weather Service, says Iowans should enjoy the unseasonable weather while it lasts, because winter weather is returning very soon.

Donovan says high temperatures will range from the 40s to mid-50s today while a cold front will move in late on Saturday, bringing highs Sunday only in the teens and 20s. By early Monday, the thermometer should be hovering around zero, with highs Monday only in the teens — some 40 to 50 degrees colder than today.

He says the approaching cold fronts will be accompanied by a lot of wind and the wind chill factors will be well below zero. Iowans may see a slight warm-up by the middle of next week but it’ll be bitter cold at least through Tuesday. There is a chance for light snow on Sunday but no significant accumulation is expected.

By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City