Upside-Down Forecast: Parts of Dakotas Could Be Warmer Than Southeast Early This Week

 

Jonathan Belles

Published: December 6, 2020

Temperatures could be warmer in the Dakotas than in parts of the Southeast early this week as the jet stream takes an impressive scenic route through North America.

A donut high-pressure ridge has taken shape over the northern Rockies, which has pushed the jet stream northward into western Canada. To the east, the jet stream will continue to drop southward over the East through the first half of this week.

This amplified jet stream pattern will allow for big temperature changes as it peaks on Tuesday.

Near the dome of high pressure, temperatures will be 15 to 30 degrees warmer than average, which brings cities from Montana to the Dakotas and Nebraska into the 50s and 60s for highs.

On the other hand, temperatures will be 5 to 10 degrees cooler than average in the Southeast as colder air from Canada surges southward.

(MORE: Weekly Planner)

Tuesday afternoon, temperatures in portions of the Northern Plains could be as much as 10 degrees warmer than in the Southeast.

The average high on Dec. 8 in Jacksonville, Florida (68 degrees), is typically 31 degrees warmer than Rapid City, South Dakota (37 degrees).

Most impressively, this may all occur under relatively clear skies, meaning the cooler air in the Southeast won't be rain-cooled.

Forecast High Temperatures

This pattern may result in a few daily warm records in the Dakotas and Montana, where temperatures can reach the low 60s, but widespread record highs are not expected.

Unfortunately, this pattern will also likely result in a second round of Santa Ana winds in Southern California early this week following the round of strong winds and dry air that ended Friday, which helped spread the Bond Fire in Orange County.

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.