After a start to winter with snowstorms and frigid wind chills, the ongoing stretch of warmer-than-normal weather may be followed by an equal chance for above or below normal temperatures for the rest of the season.

State Climatologist Justin Glisan says a weak La Nina continues in the western pacific, but doesn’t often provide specific clues to long-term climate trends in Iowa and the Midwest. However, based on the latest from the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, he expects increased possibilities for wetter than average conditions and near normal temperatures.

In the short term, warmer than normal conditions are expected to continue to last for a bit into the new year, with highs typically in the 30s and 40s possible over the next several days and no precipitation expected through the upcoming weekend.