There is finally some relief arriving from what has been a relentless cold pattern, lasting for three weeks in some areas.
It may seem strange that we're discussing cold fatigue already in the middle of November. We're still over a month away from the winter solstice.
Just six weeks ago, much of the East was searing in a record October heat wave. Then the bottom fell out.
Last month was among the 10 coldest Octobers on record in 12 states from the Plains to the Northwest.
Since the week before Halloween, cold air has dominated the Plains and Mississippi Valley. Some parts of the upper Mississippi Valley haven't had a single day warmer than average in that stretch.
Then, this week's arctic cold blast tied or set over 400 mid-November cold records across the central and eastern United States. Some locations plunged below zero, shivering in temperatures more typical of January than November.
If you're seeking a breather from this rapid onset of winter cold and snow, there's good news.
For some, warmer temperatures have already set in, at least by mid-November standards. For others, the relief will either be more subtle or might take a few days.
East, South: Patience Needed
A reinforcing cold front swept through the Northeast Friday. In general, widespread record cold is not expected, but a few daily record lows might be broken by this cold reinforcement this weekend.
Lows this weekend will bottom out in the 20s and 30s in the mid-Atlantic, with single digits and teens in northern New England and upstate New York.
Next week, the Northeast, Ohio Valley and Southeast might remain a bit cooler than average for this time of year, but not nearly as cold as this week's arctic outbreak.
This means highs will range from the 30s in northern New England to the 50s in the mid-Atlantic to the upper 50s, 60s and lower 70s in the Deep South.
Plains, Rockies: Faster Relief
Meanwhile, parts of the Rockies and High Plains have already started to feel some relief from the cold.
Highs in the 60s and 70s should become more widespread in the Plains, from Nebraska to Texas and Oklahoma into early week. Even the recently shivering upper Midwest should rebound into the 30s and 40s for highs, an improvement from the January-like cold this week.
Some longer-range model guidance suggests parts of the Plains could remain warmer than average into Thanksgiving week, while much of the East may remain cooler than average.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
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