The United States is bracing for a dramatic “temperature roller coaster” this winter, according to updated forecasts from AccuWeather.
Experts predict a season characterized by wild fluctuations, with waves of cold air alternating with milder periods.
December began with an Arctic blast that brought frigid air to the eastern U.S. and feet of lake-effect snow near the Great Lakes. However, a shift is underway.
“We’re going to see waves of colder air throughout the winter season,” AccuWeather lead long-range expert Paul Pastelok said in an advisory sent to the media. Newsweek contacted AccuWeather via email for further comment.
AccuWeather
Pastelok said that a thaw is expected to bring milder conditions to the eastern and central U.S. by mid-December. The Western states will experience increased precipitation, with heavy rain and mountain snow targeting the Pacific Northwest and occasionally Northern California.
“We are favoring heavier rain and snow in the Pacific Northwest and occasionally Northern California,” Pastelok added.
A turbulent weather pattern may return around Christmas, bringing storms and colder air to parts of the Northeast, Great Lakes and Midwest. While not as severe as the early December chill, this shift could bring timely snow to ski resorts during the holiday season, a critical time for the industry.
Despite the active storm pattern in the West, much of the interior Southwest and southwestern Plains will remain dry.
“Drought will continue across the interior Southwest and southwestern Plains as storms tend to stay north of this region for most of the winter,” Pastelok said.
As the calendar flips to January, milder weather is expected to ease heating demands in the eastern U.S. This could challenge ski resorts in the East, which may need to rely on artificial snow.
AccuWeather
Warm air surging into the Gulf Coast and Tennessee Valley could also fuel severe storms, with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico increasing the risk of thunderstorms. Florida, on the other hand, is forecast to enjoy a mild and dry winter, making it a popular vacation destination.
Colder, snowier weather could return with a vengeance in February. A new storm track combining southern and northern systems may bring snow and ice to parts of the Ohio and Tennessee valleys and the Northeast.
This weather pattern could make February the snowiest part of the winter for parts of the East.
A weakening polar vortex—a large region of cold, rotating air—might unleash the coldest air of the season around February, too. The West’s storm track is expected to shift northward again, focusing on the Pacific Northwest and Rockies.
With the potential for both a deep freeze and mild stretches, Americans should prepare for a winter full of surprises. As Pastelok summed up: “Get ready for a lot of ups and downs.”
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