TWC: Colder Temperatures Return to Central, Eastern U.S. as February Begins

By Linda Lam
Jan 29 2018 05:15 AM EST
weather.com

The recent milder temperatures will soon be a distant memory as cold conditions will return to portions of the central and eastern U.S. to begin February, courtesy of a weather pattern change.
(MORE: Winter Storm Central)

The current upper-level weather pattern will continue to allow warmer-than-average temperatures to remain in place across the East early this week.
Temperatures will return to near- to slightly-below average during the early- to mid-week period, behind a cold front that will push off the East Coast early this week.

In the upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions, instead of temperatures in the 30s and 40s, highs will top out only in the teens and 20s by Monday. Highs in the 40s and 50s in the Northeast will be replaced by highs only in the 20s and 30s by Tuesday. The South will see a cooldown, as well, with highs only in the 40s and 50s Tuesday.

Temperatures will rise again ahead of the next low-pressure system, with highs up to 20 degrees above average from the Plains to the East Coast midweek. This next system will be the start of a pattern change to start February.

Pattern Change Brings Colder Conditions

The upper-level pattern responsible for the upcoming temperature change will consist of the jet stream bulging northward over the eastern Pacific Ocean, which will result in a southward dip in the jet stream over parts of the central and eastern U.S.

This pattern will bring dry and warmer conditions to the Southwest, which is not good news for the growing drought concerns.
For most of the central and eastern U.S., this will mean rounds of colder-than-average temperatures. However, the regions where temperatures will likely be the greatest below average will be the northern Plains and upper Midwest.

The first round of chilly conditions will slide into the northern Plains and upper Mississippi Valley on Thursday. Temperatures will be up to 20 degrees colder than average there. High temperatures will only reach the single digits and teens, while lows will plummet below zero for much of the region.
The below-average temperatures will then spread into the Ohio Valley, South and East Friday into Saturday. High temperatures will not reach the freezing mark, and lows will drop into the single digits and teens in parts of the Ohio Valley and Northeast.

The good news is that these next rounds will not be as cold as we saw earlier in January and at the end of December. The colder conditions are also not expected to reach as far south as the last Arctic blast.
The South will see chillier conditions, but much of the Florida peninsula should see temperatures remain close to average for this time of year.
This pattern will also open the door for the chance for wintry precipitation at times.

Another surge of Arctic air is expected to move into the northern Plains and northern Rockies by the start of next weekend. Areas from the Plains to the Midwest and Northeast may be impacted by this next cold blast into the first full week of February, as indicated by the most recent 6- to 10-day outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.
However, exactly how far south and east this next push of colder-than-average temperatures will reach is not clear at this time, so be sure to check back to weather.com for updates.

Follow us

Connect with Mark Vogan on social media to get notified about new posts and for the latest weather updates.

Subscribe via RSS Feed Connect on YouTube

Leave a Reply

Top