Temperatures soar to well above average across the Plains and Midwest

Unseasonably warm temperatures continue across parts of the Plains and Midwest Thursday and into Friday, but a change in this pattern is right around the corner.

Warmer and drier conditions are showing up over the Heartland on the WeatherRadar as we close out the week. Some areas will even see record highs Thursday as temperatures surge up to 30 degrees above average for December. However, this warmth won't linger long as a powerful cross-country storm brings changes over the weekend.

The TemperatureRadar shows the warmest temperatures occurring Thursday but many spots will see above-average temperatures lingering into Friday. Highs will climb into the 60s across South Dakota on Thursday, making for mild afternoons in cities like Pierre and Rapid City, S.D. Temperatures will even be near 70 as far south as Kansas and Oklahoma this afternoon.

Near-record-breaking highs are also possible Thursday afternoon in numerous cities including Grand Forks, N.D., Eau Claire, Wis., and Omaha, Neb. As we head into the end of the week and into the weekend, the warmth moves east. On Friday, the above-average temperatures stretch from the southern Plains into the Midwest. By Friday, temperatures in the Dakotas will be dropping as the cross-country storm system starts taking shape.

The TemperatureRadar shows highs in the 60s across the Ohio Valley and Midsouth on Friday, with 50s in the southern Great Lakes. The warmth tracks east through the weekend before being swept out by a powerful cold front. Keep an eye on these temperature changes with the TemperatureRadar.