The past couple of days have brought warm temperatures to Iowa as the jet stream has lifted northward allowing for warm temperatures to flow into our area on strong southerly winds from the south, giving us the break from come temperatures last week. Both the past 2 days brought highs in the 40s, however today was the warmest of the 2 days as the biggest push of southwest air flowed into our area from Missouri and Kansas. Highs were in the middle to upper 40s area wide and it is the warmest it has been in weeks. Western Iowa saw highs that neared or hit 60.F including 51.F at Des Moines 55.F at Council Bluffs and 61.F at Sioux City. I was in Northwest Wisconsin for the past week for the Christmas holiday, where it was very snowy with highs only as warm as about 36.F, when I returned I did notice a large drop in the snowcover, with even grass showing again. Below is a list of high temperatures seen today.

 Williamsburg 49.F
Downtown Cedar Rapids 48.F
Kalona 47.F
 Marion 45.F
Iowa City 45.F
Hiawatha 45.F
Manchester 44.F
Waterloo 43.F
Vinton 43.F
Mechanicsville 42.F
Eastern Iowa Airport 42.F
Independence 41.F
Monticello 41.F