Central and Eastern Beginning to Thaw Out as Frigid Air Retreats

To say that it has been bitterly cold in the central and eastern U.S. as of late would be a severe understatement. Although there is still a lot of winter to get through in the coming weeks, forecasters are offering some hope to those tired of the cold. Here is a look at when you can expect the warmup to begin in this part of the country.

When Will the Cold Ease?

The coldest air of the season swept through much of the U.S. over the past week, breaking records and overwhelming energy grids as residents turned to crank up the heat. The northern Plains, the Midwest, and the Northeast have bore the brunt of the cold temperatures. However, the unseasonably cold weather pattern has also infiltrated the South, the Gulf Coast, and Florida. Nearly every area to the east of the Rocky Mountains has been impacted by the Arctic air mass that originated in Siberia.

This cold air mass is forecast to continue to push to the east over the next few days, eventually moving out of the eastern U.S. The easing of the frigid temperatures will also come along with a respite from the stormy weather. The latest forecast models indicate that the core of the Siberian air will move to the northeast by the weekend, retreating from the U.S. and Canada.

Forecasters say that the worst of the cold is in the rearview mirror for most of the country. Temperatures slipped well below zero degrees for a large swath of the Upper Midwest and over into the interior Northeast on Wednesday morning.

A record-breaking snowstorm wreaked havoc across the Gulf Coast earlier in the week, dumping several inches of snow across the region. This winter weather maker was quickly followed by a rush of Arctic air, bringing the mercury down into the single digits along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. The normally temperate Florida Panhandle saw temperatures tumble into the 10s after picking up measurable snowfall.

Temperatures will begin to moderate beginning this weekend for the Midwest and the East Coast. Even temperatures that land in the normal range for the end of January will feel warm after the region experienced readings that bounced around between 10 and 25 degrees below normal.

While a warmup is on the horizon, that does not mean that Old Man Winter will not make another appearance this year. There is still a chance that outbreaks of Arctic air will filter into the U.S. at times before spring finally arrives. For instance, the long-range forecast is showing a good chance of another blast of Arctic air along with lake-effect snow firing up by the end of January and into early February.

It should remain relatively dry until that time with no major storms lurking for the Midwest and the Northeast through the first half of next week. A rainstorm is expected to set up across the Southeast late this weekend and into Monday. For example, it could be a wet commute for Atlanta on Monday with rain showers in the forecast. Overnight lows will remain above the freezing mark, helping to dodge the risk of wintry precipitation.

This system could send the moisture far enough to the north to raise the threat of snow for the mid-Atlantic region to start the new work week. We will continue to monitor the chances of another burst of winter weather for this corner of the country.

Looking Ahead to February

Looking ahead to the month of February, meteorologists believe that a more active weather pattern will rule the long-range forecast for the Pacific Northwest and the northern Plains. This is normally the time of the year when the Northwest picks up significant amounts of moisture. However, it has been remarkably dry in cities such as Seattle and Portland for over a week.

Meanwhile, the southern and eastern U.S. will see an influx of milder air as the month of February progresses. This same weather pattern could also send beneficial rain to Southern California as it continues to grapple with deadly wildfires.

February can be a transition month as it relates to weather patterns. Although the Midwest and the Northeast are likely to see warmer temperatures when compared to February, it could also pick up mixed wintry precipitation at times as the cold air lingers at times.

This winter has been in stark contrast to the mild winter of 2024. For instance, the Upper Midwest was so warm last January that ice cover never formed on a widespread basis across the Great Lakes. The city of Minneapolis saw the mercury hover at almost 6 degrees above the historical average last January. Compare that to this January when the Twin Cities has seen readings land 5.3 degrees below the 30-year average during this time period. Cities such as Chicago and Detroit have also trended well below average this year.

The overall takeaway is that while there are still chances of winter weather on the horizon, the temperatures of the past week are likely going to remain the coldest of this season for most Americans.

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