Warming trend ahead, weekend snow shifting north?

Welcome to rock bottom on the thermometer this week. Temperatures head upward from here as a warming trend kicks in. Today's sub-zero start is the last one this week for most of Minnesota.

Yes, it's cold out there. But believe it or not we're getting off way easy compared to last winter. Just one year ago we shuddered through a midst of a stretch of 17 straight days with sub-zero lows in the metro. Polar Vortex at peak intensity.

• 15 days at or below zero so far this winter at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

• 17 days - average number of zero or colder days to date

• 37 days at or below zero last winter by Feb. 5

Arctic high pressure drifts to the east today. Temps rebound as southerly wind flow returns to Minnesota the next few days. The next clipper takes aim at northern Minnesota this weekend, a northward shift from previous tracks.

Temps respond the next few days. Recent model runs show a distinct northward shift. That moves forecast trends into milder and potentially drier territory for the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Global Forecast System still favors potentially heavy snow for northern Minnesota this weekend.

To the south, another mild spring-like weekend on tap?

Heavy rain slams the Pacific Coast as another "atmospheric river" brings a fire hose of moisture.

Some incredible rainfall totals are on the way for the West Coast. Good news for busting drought in northern California. Bad news for flood prone areas in the storm's path.

Stay tuned for breaking weather news from the West Coast later this week.