Arctic Cold Blast Incoming For the Midwest, East This Week

Quincy Vagell
Published: February 8,2016


 
A sharp, southward plunge in the jet stream is ushering in widespread arctic air from the Upper Midwest to the Gulf Coast and parts of the East to start this week. This may only be the beginning however, as there are indications that another surge of arctic air will arrive in parts of the Midwest and East this weekend. For some Northeast cities, that second blast of shivering temperatures could be the coldest of the season so far.
Cold air is nothing unusual for February, especially across the Midwest and East. However, following a recent January thaw, the pattern may make you forget about any groundhog’s call for an early spring.
Below are the forecast details on the shivering temperatures early this week and a preview of next weekend.

Current Temperatures

Cold Air Grips Midwest

Highs topped out 15 to 30 degrees colder on Monday than on Sunday for much of the Midwest. The result is a return to below-average temperatures across much of the region.

Midwest Forecast Highs This Week

After topping out in the 40s during the weekend, Chicago may not rise out of the teens or low 20s Tuesday through Thursday. In portions of eastern North Dakota and Minnesota, highs held in the teens on Monday and will likely be followed by a few subzero lows Tuesday morning. Widespread temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below average are anticipated on Tuesday, with parts of Minnesota only rising into the single digits for highs.
(FORECAST: Des Moines, Iowa | Louisville, Kentucky)
Wind chill values may drop into the teens and 20s below zero Tuesday and Wednesday morning in portions of the Upper Midwest, especially Minnesota, parts of Wisconsin and northern Iowa.

Forecast Highs Midweek

Farther south, daytime highs may stay below freezing across much of Missouri and Kentucky. However, despite the colder air, it is unlikely that this air mass will be impressive enough to cause any record low temperatures around the region.

Cooler Air Reaches the South, Too

The southward dip in the jet stream will also bring colder air to much of the South for the start of the week.
Highs in the 50s this weekend in the Nashville area have given way to 30s and 40s on Monday with some light snow falling as well. Snow may impact locations as far south as the southern Appalachians.

Forecast Highs in the South This Week

Widespread temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees below average are expected by Tuesday from the South, eastward to the parts of the mid-Atlantic states. Average highs may be in the mid-50s for Atlanta, but temperatures could struggle to get out of the 30s on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wind chills may drop into the teens as far south as Nashville and Atlanta midweek.
Through the middle of the week, colder air slides as far south and east as Florida, where northern and even central parts of the Sunshine State can expect highs in the 50s Tuesday and Wednesday. Lows in the 30s will surge as far south as central Florida by Wednesday morning. Miami may see highs in the 60s through late this week, with lows dipping into the 40s at times.
(FORECAST: Pensacola | Tallahassee)
Temperatures will be faster to recover in the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley during the week, but may remain either near or below mid-February averages much of the week in the Tennessee Valley, Carolinas, and perhaps parts of Florida.

Coldest Temperatures of the Season for the Northeast Next Weekend?

Our latest forecast guidance suggests that even more arctic air will surge southward from Canada late this week, keeping the cold weather pattern anchored over the Great Lakes and Northeast into Valentine's Day weekend.
In fact, several cities in the Northeast could see their coldest temperatures of the season so far next weekend. This includes Pittsburgh where the lowest temperature so far this season has been 3 degrees and Boston where the coldest temperature recorded this season is 8 degrees.
(FORECAST: Philadelphia | Albany, New York)

Forecast Lows

In addition to the very cold low temperatures, highs won't reach the freezing mark this weekend. Highs will only be in the 20s this weekend from Washington, D.C. to New York where average low temperatures for mid-February are in the mid to upper 20s.

 

Highs in western New York and northern New England may not even climb out of the single digits this weekend.

 

(MAPS: 10-day Forecast Highs/Lows)

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