By: Alan Raymond and Jon Erdman
Published: January 8,2014
(MORE: Arctic Cold State-by-State News)
But in the coming days temperatures will be on the rebound, welcomed news to millions who have been shivering at the thought of prolonged Arctic cold.
Jet stream pattern leading to the early January 2014 Arctic outbreak.
Jet Stream Pattern Late This Week
Pattern Change
It begins with a change in the upper-atmospheric pattern.The sharp southward plunge of the jet stream from northern Canada deep into the U.S. responsible for this past week's bitter cold outbreak will be replaced by a jet stream flow originating from the Pacific Ocean. Without blocking high pressure aloft near Greenland, this cold air, while potent, isn't able to hold in the U.S.
Temporarily, the persistent northward bulge of the jet stream near the West Coast that not only contributed to the Arctic plunge, but has also magnified a worrisome Western drought, will also flatten, or flow more west to east.
(MORE: Polar Vortex: Really The Cause?)
This means less cold air will be in place across the northern tier of states and southern Canada, and more mild air will flow northward from the southern U.S. into parts of the recently shivering Plains, Ohio Valley and Northeast by this weekend.
Let's hit the daily details.
Friday's Highs
Thursday/Friday
Warming will occur in baby steps Thursday.Parts of the Northeast urban corridor and Ohio Valley will finally warm above freezing for the first time since the beginning of the week.
Most of the Midwest will continue to warm as well. Minnesota, the Dakotas and Wisconsin — which took the brunt of this Arctic outbreak — will see some decent warming. Temperatures in this region will creep back into the upper teens and low 20s Thursday, much more common for that area this time of year.
More pronounced easing of the cold will occur Friday, with above-freezing temperatures into parts of the Great Lakes and Northern Plains. New England and the Ohio Valley will see 40s; the South will see 50s and 60s; and 70s become more widespread in Florida and South Texas. Friday's highs may approach daily records in Miami and Ft. Myers, Fla.
(FORECASTS: Chicago | New York)
Saturday's Highs
This Weekend
By this weekend, daytime highs will be above mid-January averages virtually from coast to coast.The warmest temperatures, relative to average, Saturday will be in the East.
Fifties may surge as far north as the Hudson Valley and southern New England, while 40s may warm the hearts of Mainers. Sixties may surge as far north as the nation's Capital, and 70s are not out of the question as far north as parts of North Carolina and southern Virginia. A few daily record highs may be threatened Saturday from Florida to the Mid-Atlantic coast.
(FORECASTS: Philadelphia | Raleigh)
All of this will be ahead of an advancing cold front. Rain will accompany this warmth in the East on Saturday, with possibly some early pockets of freezing rain in the interior Northeast and northern New England. A few strong thunderstorms are also possible from the Carolinas to Florida on Saturday as well.
Don't be disappointed by the phrase "cold front." High temperatures behind the cold front won't be all that cold, relative to what we've seen lately and especially relative to what's typical for mid-January.
Midwest highs in the 20s, 30s and 40s Saturday will recover Sunday into the 30s, 40s and a few 50s. The central and southern Plains will enjoy 50s, 60s and even a few 70s.
(FORECASTS: Minneapolis | Dallas | Atlanta)
East Coast highs in the 50s may occur early Sunday, with temperatures falling behind the cold front. Still, this will be a far cry from the discomfort of subzero, single digits and teens from earlier this week.
MORE: January 2014 Arctic Outbreak Photos
Detroit
Traffic backs up along I-75 due to icy conditions on pavement in Detroit, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
No comments:
Post a Comment