Finally, there's warm weather ahead for much of the U.S. But more cold first

Girls walk through the Capitol Hill neighborhood dragging sleds on Friday as school was cancelled due to snow in Washington, D.C. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

After weeks of bitter cold and heavy snow, it may finally get warmer across the eastern half of the U.S., from Kansas to Connecticut, starting this coming week.

The latest burst of Arctic air from Canada will mostly be in the East Coast by Monday. Without another immediate cold front from Canada, temperatures will likely stay above freezing for several days while also bringing some intense rain, forecasters say.