Warmth to return to north-central US next week in wake of coldest air yet this season

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist

September 29, 2018, 7:12:05 PM EDT

Cold air will gradually retreat in the midwestern United States this weekend into next week, but the temperature flip will come at the expense of wet weather.

The coldest air to plunge into the region so far this season swept through at late week, bringing snow to part of the region.

"The Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming and the Black Hills of South Dakota received 4-8 inches of snow from the weather pattern during Thursday night to Friday morning," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. Additional snow will fall over the northern Rockies on Sunday.

The chill will not have staying power into the first days of October, however, as temperatures are expected to begin a gradual ascent late this weekend into early next week.

“Milder air will move into the area early next week, preceded by a few showers on Sunday and Sunday night,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson.

The overall nature of the wet weather should be rather light and spotty to end the weekend. 

A steadier rain may evolve Sunday night into Monday from Minnesota and Iowa to Wisconsin and a portion of Michigan. In fact, localized flooding cannot be ruled out along this corridor.

Minneapolis and Madison, Wisconsin, are two of the cities where the Monday morning commute could be slowed by rain and reduced visibility.

While the rain may be a nuisance for a time, it will soon be followed by air warm enough to give heaters a rest and break out the shorts once again in some areas.

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“Temperatures will be above average by Wednesday, especially in southern areas, with even northern areas likely to return to near average,” Adamson said.

Chicago may crack the 80-degree mark at midweek, while Minneapolis is projected to soar into the 70s after remaining in the 50s this weekend.

While temperatures will soar well into the 80s early in the week, Wednesday may be the hottest day of the week from Wichita, Kansas, to St. Louis, Missouri. These cities have a shot of hitting 90 F at midweek.

Rosa will help to pump the warm air into the nation’s midsection as it tracks northeastward beyond the Southwest.

Some of Rosa’s moisture may eventually reach the northern Plains and Upper Midwest around the middle of next week.

Download the free AccuWeather app to know exactly how warm it will get and which days could be dampened by rain.