It’s been an unforgiving winter in the eastern United States so far. The relentless onslaught of Arctic blasts has kept temperatures below freezing and many major storms, blanketing regions as far south as the Gulf Coast in record-breaking snow and ice. However, soon, this trend may finally break.
The latest temperature outlook map from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, released Wednesday, shows that most of the country can expect to see above-average temperatures from February 12 to 18. The only exception is the West Coast, with California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and the western portion of Arizona most likely to see temperatures below average or normal.
To be clear, this view map does not show actual temperature projections for the next two weeks. Rather, it indicates the likelihood that the average temperature will be above normal, near normal, or below normal based on climate modeling. Still, the map is a welcome sight, as millions across the country have been dealing with life-threatening cold spells since early December.
Of course, there is a catch. While this forecast certainly gives us something to look forward to, the near-term forecast shows that another Arctic blast is already on the way, threatening to send temperatures plummeting in the East by the end of the week.
Another weekend of chattering teeth
NWS forecasters are currently tracking the storm which is expected to spread wintry rain across parts of the Mid-Atlantic today before gradually moving away from the southeast coast. This system could strengthen quickly as it joins the warm waters of the Gulf Stream in the evening, but by then, it should be moving quickly away from the coast.
While this storm won’t have much of an impact in terms of precipitation, it will help usher in some upwelling of Arctic air from the disrupted polar vortex. Forecasters expect sub-freezing temperatures to blanket the East on Friday morning, reaching as far south as the Florida Panhandle. In fact, it may be the coldest weekend of the winter so far for much of the Northeast.
As of Thursday afternoon, the NWS had issued a very cold watch for much of the Northeast, from Pennsylvania to northwestern Maine. This region can expect dangerous wind chills as low as -35 degrees Fahrenheit (-37 degrees Celsius). Such conditions can be fatal, leading to frostbite or hypothermia in a matter of minutes. The agency urges residents to limit their time outside this weekend but stresses the importance of wearing layers and not exposing skin if you must go out.
Cold weather advisories have been issued for all of Florida, along with freeze warnings for northern Florida and the southeast corner of Georgia.
The end of winter is near
Despite what the groundhog said, the end of winter weather is near. This weekend’s cold snap will be the last before we move into a warming trend, so it could start to feel like spring in the next few weeks.
Still, it’s too early to say for sure what the rest of February will bring. This month is notorious for local and regional temperature fluctuations, as temperatures rise. Therefore, short bursts of cold air and late season storms are still possible.
Temperatures are forecast to warm up across much of the East next week, so hopefully that fact will help residents get through this cold weekend. Winter may not be over yet, but it looks like their grip on the region is finally starting to soften.
