Good evening. Iowa. I'm Aaron Jolly.

Tonight brings patchy fog statewide as moisture settles near the ground. Western Iowa drops to 35 degrees. Central and eastern areas hold closer to 41. The Quad Cities may catch a stray shower or rumble of thunder overnight.

In the next 24 hours. Thursday starts with fog burning off by mid-morning. Then we warm up fast. Western Iowa hits 64 degrees with gusty southeast winds. Central Iowa reaches 62. Eastern Iowa and the Quad Cities top out near 59.

But here's where the story shifts. Thursday night, a potent storm system arrives. Rain and thunderstorms sweep across the state after midnight. Some storms could be strong, with hail the main threat.

Friday is the headliner. Temperatures surge into the low 70s. That's roughly 25 degrees above normal for early March. The Quad Cities could challenge record highs. But with that warmth comes more rain and storms.

The weekend offers a breather. Saturday cools to the 50s with clearing skies. Sunday rebounds to the 60s. Monday pushes toward 70 again under sunny skies.

Then Tuesday, the other shoe drops. Rain returns. And by Wednesday, temperatures crash into the 30s and 40s. A rain-snow mix is possible. Two weeks until spring equinox, but we're getting a sneak preview before winter reminds us it's not done yet.

For the extended outlook, check the latest forecast as confidence improves.

That's your forecast — we'll be back tomorrow.