- A new round of cold air is headed for much of the central and eastern United States
- Record lows, including sleet or freezes, are possible for some.
- This generally great pattern may continue for the rest of the month or even early May.
Cold air is sinking into much of the central, southern and eastern United States, which could threaten some record lows this weekend and could remain strong through the rest of the month.
Spring weather is almost by definition changeable. After the warmth last week and again this week, it stands to reason that colder weather is on the way.
Let's break down the details of the forecast, and then we'll explain why this most fascinating pattern appears.
Timing of forecasts
Cold air will arrive in the southeast and northeast on Sunday or Monday.
Once the air gets cooler this weekend, highs in the 40s or 50s will be the norm across much of the Midwest. Highs to the south could continue into the 50s in parts of the southern Plains and 60s in the Tennessee Valley.
Frost, freeze and possible records
This weekend and into Monday, the potential for sleet and freezes will spread southward into parts of the Midwest, Ozarks, Ohio Valley, and Appalachia.
In these areas, be sure to cover or, if possible, insert any unprotected plants to prevent damage.
Daily record lows could also be threatened this weekend during the upcoming work week from Minnesota to Kansas. Among the cities that could be approaching record lows are Omaha, Nebraska (Sunday recorded 28 degrees); Kansas City (Sunday record 32 degrees); and Grand Forks, North Dakota (Monday's record is 15 degrees).
How long will the cold last?
Overall, we expect this cooler pattern to continue across most of the eastern half of the United States through the end of the month. This is according to projections from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
Parts of the West may finally warm above average during the last week of April and into early May.
Why will it be cold?
We understand if you've been feeling a little stressed out by the weather lately, even though spring is notoriously popular in the northern United States
For example, the temperature in La Crosse, Wisconsin, soared to one of the highest levels ever recorded at 90 degrees last Wednesday, only to receive nearly 10 inches of snow four days later.
There is a straightforward explanation for this cooler trend ahead.
A bubble of high pressure will strengthen in the upper atmosphere from Greenland to far northeastern Canada. Meteorologists call this area the “Greenland Block” because this forces the jet stream to dive south into the eastern United States.
When this blocking pattern forms, it pulls cold air into the plains, south, and east. Such lumps may sometimes be stubborn and persist for a week or several weeks.
So enjoy any spring warmth you may feel before the cold front arrives. You may have to wait until at least early May for the next round of spring fever to begin.
The Weather Company's primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment, and the importance of science in our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
