We hope you're having a good weekend folks!
THIS WEEK (3-9 JAN) looks to start off with a quick burst of very cold temperatures in the Northeast but it modifies quickly to above average temperatures as we go through the week. With the cold is dry and partly sunny conditions in the Northeast so enjoy the sunshine as next week is stormier NE. The big news this week is a week long storm event for California with 0.50" to 4.00" of rain across the entire state! The Sierras and even the San Gabriel range outside LA will get very heavy snowfall this week. Another round of heavy rain (1-3") from East Texas to Kentucky so hopefully it spares the flood ravaged areas a bit further north in Missouri and Illinois. Some moderate snowfall is likely for the Upper Midwest from the Eastern Dakotas to Wisconsin toward next weekend. For the week overall the western half of the U.S. will trend slightly below average temperatures while the East will trend well above average even with the brutal cold shot early in the week. U.S. trends the warmest in 4 years with above average national temperatures, rainfall near average but a bit drier than last year overall with snowfall trending the least in 3 years nationally and below average.
10-16 JANUARY: Our focus will shift to the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Northeast as a couple storms could impact the region with snow. Right now it appears the interior Northeast, 50 miles west of DC to Boston appear to be the favored areas for snow but this is subject to change depending on exact storm tracks. Recent model runs have made the 9-11th storm warmer and for now reducing the threat for heavy snow from coastal VA to Boston...again something to monitor as the pattern is favorable for a Nor'easter development with very warm waters off the VA-NJ areas. This warm water could allow for explosive storm development but it also allows warmer air to move in sparing the coastal cities with more rain than snow...TBD! This week over the past few years has brought little snow to the U.S. will below average national snowfall but that should change this year with the snowiest middle January week in 5 years. California dries out as the storm track shifts back to the Northwest across the Northern tier of the U.S. mid-month so heavy snow returns to the Northwest. The season's first arctic cold front looks to move into the Northern Rockies around the 11th, then spill into the Ohio Valley by the 12th and into the Middle Atlantic by the 13th. This cold snap will help make the U.S. overall trend a bit below average overall but still warmer than last year.
Have a great week folks! - Capt Kirk out.