DENVER -- Our winter preview is just about over. The arctic air mass that chilled us over the weekend will stick around for another couple of days, but by mid-week, the 60s will return.

Record-setting cold, snow and freezing drizzle plagued the Denver area over the weekend, thanks to a strong early-season Arctic cold front. Record low temperatures were set for Friday and Saturday as the mercury dipped into the teens. A low of 17 degrees was recorded at Denver Saturday morning. The previous record low was 25 degrees, set in 1905.

While the mountains will enjoy some additional snowfall, drier air is moving in to the Front Range. Strong mid-level winds from the west will push warmer air into the area, but it will take a few days for the dense, cold air to move out. For Columbus Day, we'll see more sunshine, however temperatures will stay below normal. A strong jet stream pattern passing to our north on Monday could make things a little breezy.

By Wednesday, downsloping winds will be in place, bringing our temperatures back to the 60s. A strong high pressure ridge will move in for the rest of the week, allowing the mild weather to continue into next weekend.

While it is a bit early in the season for such cold weather, the circumstances that brought the frigid air to us are fairly common. Undulations in the jet stream happen all the time. The separation between warm and cold air is known as the "polar front". In our case, the polar front dropped down further south than usual, allowing dense, chilly air to drive all the way down our way. Daytime highs are typically in the 60s for mid October.