The United States is set to experience a dramatic weather pattern change that will see an end to the frigid cold that has gripped the country. With the exception of Florida and Southern Texas, the entire nation has been affected by low temperatures, with some areas experiencing wins chills of below -40 degrees. This sudden cold snap has caused hundreds of temperature records to be smashed, and even made the Iowa caucuses the coldest ever held. However, this is all about to change due to a significant shift in the weather pattern.
The shift in the upper levels of the atmosphere will result in the jet stream flowing north across the US next week. Previously, the jet stream ran across the southern tier of the country, allowing bursts of cold air to rush through Canada and into the US. By next week, this will trap the cold air in Canada and allow warm air from the tropics to flow northwards into the US. This change will usher in unseasonably mild conditions, with some areas feeling more like March than January.
Chicago may finally rise above freezing on Monday, the first time since Saturday afternoon that temperatures in the city eclipse the 32-degree mark. The most significant change will come midweek when parts of the Plains and Midwest will experience temperature swings of 40-50 degrees.
Areas that were 30-40 degrees below average last week will become 10-20 degrees above the average. Des Moines, Iowa and Minneapolis will be most affected, with the latter experiencing a shift from 2 degrees to around 40 degrees in just four days.
According to the Climate Prediction Center, the entire Lower 48, with the exception of Florida and Southern Texas, will experience above-average temperatures starting next Tuesday. This warming trend will begin from Sunday for parts of the North-Central and West US states and gradually spread across the country. The warming effect is a result of both the position of the jet stream and the shift in the weather patterns in the upper levels of the atmosphere.
It is unlikely that this change will last forever, and some North-Eastern cities, including Boston and New York, will still experience lower temperatures than they would expect for January. However, this upcoming warm spell will provide the relief that many have been hoping for and is welcome news for those who have had enough of the cold. It is indeed a lesson on the unpredictable nature of nature but at this moment, the US can all breath a collective sigh of relief.
