The frigid air may be off the playing field and being replaced by MUCH milder, moister air tomorrow but winter is far from over.

In fact, there’s firm indication of yet more arctic air as dropping south as early as mid next week with a serious of disturbances (clippers) riding an increasing northern flow into the N Plains.

First the surge of warm, moist air up the East Coast.

This current 7 day period is quite the temperature rollercoaster with highs rising from last Tuesday’s teens to tomorrow’s 60s in DC, Baltimore (possibly Philadelphia), 50s New York and Boston and by next week, back to the 20s as more cold drops out of Canada.

A secondary surge of mild will be more noticeable for Des Moines, Chicago and Detroit Monday as a system crossing Canada draws warmer air north with highs climbing into the 40s but by Wednesday the bottom drops out once again with highs again staying in the single digits in Minneapolis, low teens Chicago. By Thursday highs return to the 20s from DC to New York, possibly the teens in Boston.

Here’s the latest ECMWF chart now through next Friday. Note the building the ridge back up into Alaska which helps draw the really cold stuff south.

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72

120

168

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Given the type of pattern and winter the US has seen up till now and the below SST profile with the very warm waters within the Gulf of Alaska, one believes the cold shots will keep on coming with the bias towards Alaskan ridging.

Continued Record Dry, Warm And Windy Across Southern California

Unfortunately this means a continuation of the record dry spell in California. No real rain in sight and there’s an increased fire risk early next week with the return of Santa Ana winds.

How Dry Has It Been?

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