Category: Arctic Cold

I sure hope you’ve taken time to get out and enjoy a couple of days of milder air (temperatures have run 10-12 degrees above seasonal levels the past couple days) and even some sunshine.  Given what I see coming down the road, the trend that looks to take a colder turn this week may really go into the tank week two.

Here’s an overview of the latest GFS and ECMWF ensemble data out at Days 8 through 10 (January 21st-23rd).  Both of these, more trusted, mid to long range computer models suggest a cold pattern locks itself into the East once again, and spells for colder than average temperatures and potentially a snowier than normal regime.

We’ll now dive a little deeper into the forecast model vault, courtesy of the unbelievable Weatherbell Analytics model suite (can’t brag on that company enough).  We’re looking at the Northern Hemisphere Upper Air Pattern, courtesy of the European ensemble control run from this afternoon.

Note the mid week trough set to deliver a return of arctic air into the region.  That’s reinforced with a late week trough and renewed arctic air.  Both cold air masses will be capable of producing light accumulating snow across the area.

Per yesterday’s post, as we get into the early to middle portion of next week, we’ll have to keep a close eye on the potential of the southern and northern branches of the jet stream phasing, which would lead to a significant winter storm across some parts of the eastern half of the country (far too early for specifics or details).

We then note the Polar Vortex recharges itself and threatens to turn the last week to 10 days of January very cold.  How cold is yet to be determined, but I think it’s a safe bet sub-zero temperatures aren’t finished with our area just yet.

Intrusions of very cold arctic air will “pinwheel” around the Polar Vortex and likely lead to a bitterly cold end of January and open to February…