What to Know About This Week's Weather: Pattern Change Soon in the East?

Linda Lam
Published: June 4,2017
The calendar may say June, but it will not feel that way for many in the East in the week ahead. However, parts of the West will experience summer-like conditions.
(MAPS: Weekly Planner)
There may be good news for those looking for a change, as a pattern shift may be ahead as early as late this week or next weekend.

1) The East Will Remain Stuck In A Wet Pattern...To Start

Many areas of the Northeast, Midwest and South saw a wetter-than-average May due to a persistent southward plunge of the jet stream, or trough, over the East. This trough repeatedly took hold of the East due to a blocking upper-level area of high pressure located near Greenland.
(MORE: Eastern May Rain Fatigue)
This upper-level pattern, unfortunately, will remain in place into this week.

Contour shows rainfall forecast through Tuesday.

The next round of rain and thunderstorms will accompany a low-pressure system pushing through the East into midweek.
A cold front associated with this system will even push through the South into the Gulf of Mexico, enhancing rain and storms across the region as tropical moisture from the Gulf surges north.
The heaviest rain through midweek is expected along the northern Gulf coast and in the Florida peninsula, where more than 3 inches of rainfall is likely. A widespread swath of more than 3 inches is expected in central and southern Florida, where locally over 6 inches is possible.
This heavy rainfall will bring the threat of flash flooding. However, it will also likely be beneficial for the drought, which continues to worsen in portions of Florida. As of May 30, 2017, 15 percent of the state was experiencing extreme drought, the second highest category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

2) Cool Through Early June In The East

If you are hoping for a warm up early this week in the Northeast or Midwest, you will have to wait a little longer. This is because the upper-level trough over the East will also keep temperatures on the cool side.

This Week's Forecast

Temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees cooler-than-average in portions of the South and much of the Northeast into midweek. Highs will only top out in the 50s and 60s in parts of the Northeast, while temperatures will be in the low-to-mid 80s in much of the South.
(MAPS: 10-Day Forecast)
Warmer weather may finally return to the Northeast by next weekend thanks to a pattern change. For details, see the bottom of this article.

3) More Like Summer In The West

Meanwhile, the West will be under the influence of an upper-level ridge of high pressure once again early-to-midweek.
A mostly southwesterly flow will allow warm and mostly dry conditions to prevail across much of the region through at least midweek.

Forecast Highs

Areas from the Southwest and Great Basin into the northern Rockies and northern Plains will see warmer-than-average temperatures to start the week. This warmth will then spread back into the Pacific Northwest midweek.
Highs will be 10 to 20 degrees above average for many locations, with lows near-to-above average as well. Look for highs to soar well into the 90s for Salt Lake City and Boise, while Portland and Seattle will see temperatures around 80 degrees midweek.
(MORE: In California, 'June Gloom' Is A Real Thing)
However, the California coast, as well as the central and southern Rockies, will see temperatures generally near average.

4) Pattern Change May Be Ahead 

For those looking for a change in the weather, there may be good news heading into mid-June. There are some indications that a shift in the pattern may take place, possibly as early as late this week or next weekend.
The details of this pattern change are still uncertain, but the upper-level trough over the East will lift out, while another trough will push into the western U.S. This will allow the upper-level ridge to slide over the central U.S.

The upper-level pattern may begin to change late this week.

This will result in warming temperatures from the Plains to the East, along with an increase in dew points, which will make it feel more humid. A break from the persistent wet weather will also likely accompany the warmer conditions.
(MORE: June Temperature Forecast)
Meanwhile, cooler temperatures will likely begin to infiltrate the West. In addition, the chance for showers will once again return to the Pacific Northwest.
MORE: South Flooding and Severe Weather in Plains May 18-19, 2017 (PHOTOS)

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