Bear with it pilgrims, after the bitterly cold weather forecasted for this week, much nicer conditions are coming. Really, they are.

Both the National Weather Service and State College, Pennsylvania-based AccuWeather says that much, much more decent weather is due to arrive. A slow build up will begin this weekend as warmer air slides east out of the Great Plains.

Temperatures will rise into the upper 20s and lower 30s for the weekend and by next Monday they'll climb into the lower 40s.

In fact, so warm is it expected that Dallas may see 80s by the end of the month and 70s for the Washington, DC area.

The reason is that the Jet Stream will (FINALLY!) slide further north, ushering in warmer air.

Fewer severe storms are anticipated, too.

Thus, the worst of winter should be over after we shiver under bitterly cold conditions Tuesday through Friday.

There is just one little fly in the soup, however.

A rapid warm-up very likely will lead to an increased chance of flooding. Such streams as the Chagrin and Grand rivers may experience this condition and thus require an appropriate response.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com