Warm up and Rain?: Major pattern shift coming after we get through frigid weekend

Good Saturday to everyone,

Arctic chill has taken western North Carolina over most of this week and today we are dealing with the strongest of two shots of cold air that we have seen this week. Temperatures at the lunch hour across the region are well below normal for this time of the year. These temperatures would be cold for early morning standards, not mid-day.

While its been cold and dry across the Foothills and Western Piedmont, our friends in the mountains has had quite the winter wonderland this week as snow has fallen at various points throughout the week. The ski industry is thriving right row as amounts between 1-2 feet have been common this week. And with continued cold weather through the weekend even more man-made snow will be added to an already impressive base.

If you look at the visible satellite image a lot of the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Tennessee Valley and Appalachians have snow on the ground. It’s been a long time since we have seen such an expansive snow pack.

We have a cold weekend coming up but once we get into next week big changes are coming that will warm us up and also bring a return of wet weather. A massive ridge will form over the Northeast US with a broad trough axis running from the Northern Plains down into West Texas. That means broad southwest flow at 10,000 ft will return to the Southeast and Eastern US and that will allow temperatures will quickly moderate by the early to mid part of this upcoming week.

This setup will also mean the return of frequent upper level storm systems scooping up abundant moisture. At the lower levels of the atmosphere, high pressure off the Southwest Atlantic Ocean will help enhance the return flow. Expect big rain makers to return to the Southeast starting on Wednesday and lasting through the second half of the upcoming week.

The frozen ground we have today will quickly thaw out as we get into next week as significant rainfall will return and temperatures that today won’t get above freezing skyrocket to the 50’s and 60’s by the mid to late parts of next week.