already in the 70s. the question is, how much longer will these unseasonably warm temperatures deck around? meteorologist efren afante is here to answer the question. >> everyone is asking the question. how long will it last? right now temperatures -- are at 71 degrees in the capital city. a lot of sunshine. wind out of the west, southwest at 11 miles per hour. forget about the wind chill. it is more like a heat index. we're experiencing hardly any clouds right now. a little cloud coverage into the upstate. just some passing clouds in the piedmont. the forecast high today of 75 degrees. the wind continues out of the southwest. overnight tonight, a little cloud coverage. a low of 54. tomorrow, i will have to update that. we could be looking at 70s over the next few days. we will look at the seven-day forecast in a few minutes.

around the midlands today, if you hear loud noises, in orangeburg county, don't be alarmed. they are performing bomb squad training exercises. they are doing this at the training facility 8 miles east of bowman. you might hear explosives being detonated in the area until 4:00 this afternoon. in newberry county, two people have been arrested from north carolina. they are 27-year-old stephen taylor and 22-year-old richard clarke. they were questioned after deputies say the appeared to be acting suspicious behind a restaurant on highway 34. according to deputies, the vehicle they were in contained marijuana, cocaine, crystal meth, and unlawfully possessed handguns. they both are facing a number of drug charges. in union county, a man is facing more charges after deputies say he used his son's cub scout troop to scam money from people. deputies say jeffrey scott

been going door-to-door collecting donations in using -- in union county by the cub scouts are not having a fundraiser right now. people have said henderson came to their door asking for money. now there are 67 additional charges. the lexington mayor will deliver a state of the town address at 6:30 p.m. at the town council chambers. topics covered will include the town's division plan, projects at the ice house and the response to october's historic flood. the public is invited to attend. the time for campaigning in iowa is almost over. tonight, people in that state will kick off the presidential nominating process with caucuses. we're intimately with the latest. -- we are in des moines with the latest. >> it was an early wake-up call.

>> we have to be a little bit nervous. i like to win. i want to win for the country. not for myself. this is my first election night. >> marco rubio stopped at a des moines cracker barrel with he is in third place. >> ted cruz is counting on an army of supporters to pull off an upset. >> republican party officials say they expect a rate. -- a record turnout tonight. and that may go well for donald trump. >> these first-time voters and the like donald trump have turned out to caucuses. >> democrat bernie sanders is also counting on first-time voters. >> we need tens of millions of people to stand up and say enough. >> sanders and hillary clinton are in a virtual tie.

i'm still standing. i think that kind of experience will really do me well in this campaign. >> and the threat of a winter storm could impact of voter turnout tonight. cbs news, des moines, iowa. >> a des moines poll released this weekend says 45% of republican voters in iowa say they could still change their minds on who they will support tonight. and the first of the primaries will be later this month for south carolina. the republican primary is scheduled for the 20th. on february 13, cbs will host a debate among the gop candidates in greenville. cbs has announced the moderators for the debate. they will be face the nation anchor john dickerson, cbs white house correspondent major garrett, and conservative columnist kimberly stossel. the democratic primary will be february 27. former president bill clinton will be in columbia this weak campaigning for his life.

university. democratic members of the south carolina general assembly. president obama has issued a 40th presidential month. the first was issued by ford in 1976 after the association of the study of african-american life and history expanded black history week. obama says americans should not only reflect on the sacrifices and contributions made by generations of african-americans, but also address the inequalities and injustices that linger. michigan -- department of environmental quality is proposing a five-part strategy to determine whether the water in flint is safe to drink. the department director says the agency will outline plans, which includes water testing at home, schools, food services and restaurants, and blood testing. the flint water became contaminated with lead after

system in 2014 to save money. a second virginia tech student has been arrested in connection with the death of a 13-year-old girl who disappeared early last week. virginia tech issued a statement yesterday confirming the arrest of natalie keeper, a sophomore at the school. she is the second person to be arrested in the death of the girl's whose body had been found. she had been missing from her home since the middle of last week. police earlier arrested 18-year-old david eisenhower, another virginia tech student and charged him with murder in this case. today we could learn more about what caused the amtrak train to speed up as it went near philadelphia. it has been eight months since the crash that killed eight and injured 200 more. federal investigators will release more evidence in the case including interviews with the conductor. 37 americans have contracted the zika virus.

virginia and the district of columbia. four of them, pregnant women. today the world health organization will hold an emergency meeting to discuss ways to battle the virus, which first appeared in may. it is linked to birth defects. it is believed to be spread from mosquitoes. as vaccines against -- as they are working on vaccines against the zika virus. high wind hasn't reverenced a state -- ravaged the state of california. the ground is soaked by recent storms. the wind was howling at up to 70 miles per hour. gusting at 150 miles per hour in some areas. el nio fueled the storms are expected to last through the spring. it was a close game. with usc basketball team held onto their perfect record.

but the gamecocks rally, led by mitchell, who scored 18 points in the second half. the final score, 70-63. the team is now 21 and zero overall. and nine and zero in sec play. the women play host to kentucky on thursday. google is reportedly testing solar powered drones. they could deliver high-speed internet from the air, that is 40 times faster than 4g. according to the guardian, tests are being conducted in new mexico. the project is code named, "sky vendor". for everyone who loves to use emojis, here are some of the images that could make their way to your phone. including an avocado, a butterfly, glasses. the la times says an estimated 74% of americans use these everyday. still ahead today on

closer look a take a look at downtown

it is an absolutely beautiful day. you can't really complain about starting february with temperatures in the 70s. meteorologist efren afante joins us with the details on how much longer this is going to last. i need you to say more than two days. >> okay. more than two days. >> and that is true? >> it is true. >> it is beautiful right now. i said earlier this morning, go out for a run. take the kids to the park. absolutely gorgeous. look at the temperatures right now. we're starting off with a beautiful start to the monday. temperature right now, 71 in lexington. seventy-one in saint matthews. a couple 70s right now from saluda down to aiken, down to orangeburg. maybe cooler from winnsboro, to camden. the sunshine feels absolutely beautiful right now outside. here in columbia, 71. a little cloud coverage. wind out of the west, southwest. at 11 miles per hour right now. cloud free for the most part

throughout the palmetto state. we have an approaching cold front. the tail end of this -- this area of low pressure, will fizzle out as it gets into the deep southern states. all of the rain following the cold front heading toward that area -- and staying in the north carolina region. today. overnight tonight, and tomorrow, a little more cloud coverage. the upstate. all throughout the day tomorrow, we will have a mixture of sunshine and clouds. not expecting any rain as we're looking at highs today in the middle to upper 50s. the northern communities still in the lower-70s. nevertheless, we still have a lot of sunshine. in columbia, expecting a high of 75. wind continues out of the south at 10 miles per hour. tonight, 54 degrees will be the low. very mild overnight tonight. looking at most of the temperatures to be in the lower to middle 50s.

in the upper 50s for the overnight temperatures. when this whole front gets there and makes it over the appalachians, we will have clearing skies for the most part. watching this area of low pressure that has been slowly moving off to the west coast. on wednesday, -- or tuesday rather, they are expecting a lot of snow getting into the areas in the northern plains. possible severe weather in the south. as it makes its way toward us, this is what we are expecting by wednesday midnight. the cold front will start getting through. we're looking at the possibility of showers and thunderstorms in the morning to midday and continuing into the afternoon. at least the weather will be good tomorrow. seventy-six is the high. a lot of sunshine. then, on wednesday, watching the cold front come through -- we will still be in the 70s while the cold front passes through. seventy-four is the high. and lingering showers into thursday. as temperatures start to cool off. 61 degrees. when the cold front is out of here, you will have a mixture of sun and clouds friday and saturday with highs in the middle 50s.

outside of the rain on wednesday and thursday, pretty much -- you can bank on really nice outdoor weather conditions over the next seven days. especially tomorrow. tomorrow, some communities in the midlands are going to be very close to -- if not, at 83. >> not bad for the second day of february. >> not at all. >> this is why we live in south carolina. >> thank you very much. still ahead today on news19 at noon, we're heading into the mr. food test kitchen with howard where he is baking muffins. . >> and whether or not punxsutawney phil sees his shadow tomorrow, we have a rise

welcomed be

raspberry streusel muffins. >> i want to give you a heads up that tomorrow is groundhog day. so after you get up and make your morning coffee, you will want to see if punxsutawney phil sees his shadow. let's hope he does and so we can say goodbye to winter. and while you are waiting, we have a rise and shine muffin that will go perfect with your coffee. start by mixing melted butter, a bit of milk, egg, and a splash of vanilla until they are well combined. to that, we add the dry ingredients which is simply some sugar, flour, baking powder, and a touch of salt. when the batter is smooth, we gently stir and fresh raspberries. we want to be sure not to break them up. now, for the part that turns ordinary muffins into extraordinary muffins.

cops, we copies with a mixer we made by combining the flower and brown sugar with a bit of melted butter. and don't be surprised if everyone begins sticking their heads out of the bedroom doors while these are baking. they are not looking for their shadow. but wondering what smells so good. of course, it will be these raspberry streusel muffins. and like always, the recipe is online. which is perfect no matter how many more weeks of winter are ahead. i'm howard in the mr. food test kitchen where today we found

shadow of a doubt, ooh (phone ringing) you can't deal with something, by ignoring it. but that's how some presidential candidates seem to be dealing with social security. americans work hard, and pay into it. so our next president needs a real plan to keep it strong. (elephant noise) (donkey noise)

here is a look at what is coming on tv tonight starting at 8:00.

scorpion at 9:00. 10:00, ncis los angeles. stay up for the latest weather and sports and news on wltx at 11:00. cam newton is going with zebra stripes instead of a panthers team on history to the super bowl. there you have it. the star quarterback likes to do his own thing. the pandas arrived on the west coast yesterday. creating a stir by showing up on the bus with zebra print plans. if you wanted a pair, you would have to shell out $849. if you have that much money for pam, you can say whatever you want to about cam newton. in pennsylvania, a judge said so many people are wearing pjs to the courtroom, that he put up this sign. the judge says this sign is not meant for people who are just stopping by to pay fees or do paperwork -- but for people who are planning to appear in

columbia and lexington animal services are holding a valentine special. february 122 the 15th of this month, you can adopt a pet for just $14. the adoption fee includes spay, neuter, microchips, heartworm test, leukemia, initial vaccines and the warming. fourteen dollars. they can be adopted in columbia or at lexington shelter on ballpark road. coming up today on friends at five, researchers are looking at how blood pressure drugs may be effective in treating alzheimer's. hypertension is a risk factor for the disease because it disrupts blood flow to the frame. we will tell you why doctors think one drug could be great for both conditions when you join us today for friends at five. picture this. a verse such a jacket -- a jacket like that -- matching

>> i'm not saying anything to you. you can do that. >> you would turn on the news and go, what is he wearing? >> yes. i saw online earlier -- because i wanted to see these pants myself -- that they sold out of these pants. they are clearly a head. >> look at that. >> i would wear them. i don't know if they would look good on camera. but i will try to make it look good. >> while he is an excellent football player. >> you are an excellent

>> >> jack: you're absolutely sure? 100%? you're coming back to jabot? no second thoughts? >> billy: not a one. >> jack: fantastic. >> billy: all right. >> victoria: billy! you're -- >> jack: hey! >> victoria: hey, guys. i just got the most wonderful news. >> jack: well, we got some pretty wonderful news here, too. billy, as soon as he has recovered, is coming back to jabot. >> victoria: oh. that's fabulous. i know how much that must mean to you. >> billy: being back in the fold. >> jack: it means a lot to all of us. >> phyllis: let's get a picture. >> jack: good idea. >> billy: no. we don't need a picture.

>> victoria: here.