Transition to a More Sustained Cold, Stormy Pattern Likely Toward the End of the Month

Figure 1. GEFS predicted 5-day average temperature anomaly (degrees C) for January 20th – 25th. (Tropical Tidbits)

Confidence in a transition to a more sustained, cold and stormy regime around and after the 20th (next weekend, roughly) has increased.

Both the EPS and GEFS have locked onto the idea of ridging (high pressure) developing along the West Coast, blocking forming near Greenland, with overall lower heights evolving in between both features late next week.

What does this mean?

In this kind of pattern, frequent intrusions of arctic air into the eastern two-thirds of the country occur; it also typically results in a more active storm track.

Taking all of this into account, a change to a more sustained, cold and stormy pattern with well below-average temperatures in the 1 – 2 week period is likely for much of the country.

How long will it last?

It is uncertain how long this pattern will last. However, both the CFS and EPS weeklies indicate that it will remain in place through at least the first week or two of February.


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Caleb Carmichael
Caleb Carmichael

Caleb is the owner of Gulf Coast Storm Center. He is currently an undergraduate student at Mississippi State University majoring in geoscience with a concentration in broadcast and operational meteorology. While not yet a meteorologist, Caleb has been providing weather updates, news, and analysis for the Gulf Coast since 2014.

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