Warmer Weather Moving Across the U.S. to Start the Week

Spring will be in the air for much of the U.S. this week as warmer weather spreads from west to east in the days ahead. The dramatic change in the weather will be welcomed with open arms after the unseasonably cold and snowy stretch of the last several weeks. Here is a look at the warming trend and what you can expect if you live in the central and eastern U.S.

Warmer Temperatures Taking Over the Central and Eastern U.S.

A warming trend is going to expand across the country heading into the new week. The wave of warm air will spread from the Midwest and into the Northeast before dipping down into the southern tier of the U.S. The warmth will settle in thanks to a northward bulge in the jet stream that will also usher in drier conditions.

The uptick in temperatures is already underway for the central Plains. The warmer weather will peak during the middle of the week before the temperatures begin to slip again heading into next weekend.

The incoming surge of warmth will feel even more noticeable following the abnormally cold start to the year. Temperatures hovered well below the historical average for January and February across a large section of the northern and central U.S. The last few weeks have been particularly cold. For instance, some parts of the northern U.S. have not notched readings over the freezing level for about two weeks.

How warm will it get this week? Most communities in the central and eastern parts of the country will see the mercury climb to about 10 to 15 degrees over the historical average for the end of February. Forecasters are predicting that temperatures will land at levels that are more typical of the end of March or early April.

The swing in temperatures will be most stark across the northern Rockies and northern Plains. Some cities in this region saw the temperatures tumble to several degrees below zero last week. The coldest areas of Nebraska, Montana, and the Dakota experienced bone-chilling readings of 30 degrees below zero at times during the latest cold stretch.

Compare that to early this week when the mercury is expected to soar into the 60s for some areas of the Plains and the interior Northeast. The change in temperatures will hit a differential of up to 90 degrees when compared to last week in a few areas.

Forecast for the Eastern U.S.

The Plains states will see the most drastic warmup. However, the eastern U.S. will also get in on this warming trend. Temperatures are expected to inch up into the 40s and 50s for highs throughout the mid-Atlantic. The influx of warmer temperatures will melt any patches of ice and snow left from last week's winter weather maker.

The forecast is calling for the temperatures to climb in the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast on Monday before peaking on Tuesday and Wednesday. A cold front coming in on Thursday will work to knock the temperatures back a bit when compared to the peak readings during the middle of the week.