Let’s take another look at just how incredible February 2015 was once again.

You are likely to never see another month like it. I recall 5 to perhaps 10 above or below normal but not 15 to 20 spanning an entire month.

An incredible area of the Eastern US has witnessed the coldest or 2, 3rd coldest February in history. Just look at all those 1s or 2s.

As stated in recent days, there’s a real battle setting up between warmth trying to build north and the persistent cold that will continue to hold ground, especially over the vast expanse of snow cover.

The fight is already going. Very evident in the temperature contrast over Georgia alone this afternoon.

44 in the north east vs 86 in the south.

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The model has the ridge in the Southeast but also sees the low level colder air with influence from the snow cover.

The Southeast ridge is currently stronger than normal and trying to push 80-degree air north. Not uncommon for early March but remember the amount of snow and low level cold air. That’s sparking rain, sleet, snow and ice.

Here’s the next big snowstorm for later Wednesday into Thursday.

The GFS 7-day mean 500mb anomaly continues to have a trough into the Northeast but it is coming up against the resistance of the Southeast ridge which will flex and WILL manage to pump a certain amount of heat northward but it should get overwhelmed by a stronger and more dominant cold pattern since the atmosphere over the northeast Pacific and Alaska will continue to feed off that warmer than normal water.

2m temp anomalies

Notice in week 2 (7-14 day) that the ridge builds into the Northeast…

However… is there warmth with this positive height field? No.

See video for the discussion.

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