photo by: Associated Press

Frost forms on a window in Lawrence, Kan., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Compared with Wednesday’s bitter cold, it should feel like spring by Saturday as the so-called polar vortex engulfing the area moves to the east.

As early as Thursday, temperatures should climb into the upper 30s, according to John Woynick, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Topeka.

On Wednesday, temperatures had dipped to minus 3 degrees by about 6:45 a.m. in Lawrence, Woynick said, but they will steadily warm through the rest of the week and reach 60 degrees by Sunday.

“This weekend will be a good time to wash the car and get off the grime,” Woynick said.

People were bundled up Wednesday morning and area schools were closed because of the extreme cold, but winds will soon shift from the south, bringing a reprieve, Woynick said.

“We’ll also have a lot of warm air from the west coming our way through the weekend and a flow of southerly winds for a nice warm-up that will allow us to get up to 57 degrees in Lawrence on Saturday and 58 to 60 degrees on Sunday,” Woynick said.

Enjoy it while it lasts, he said, because the bottom is expected to drop out again early next week.

By Monday another system will be approaching from the west, bringing a cold front through the area. There is a chance of rain or snow with the system; however, Woynick said if the system stays on track, the snow should stay north and east of Lawrence.

As people braced for the icy-cold blast, the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department issued warnings to guard against hypothermia. However, no weather-related problems were reported at LMH Health’s emergency department as of Wednesday morning, according to Caroline Trowbridge, marketing communications manager for the hospital.