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Americans across much of the country will finally feel relief from the bitter cold that has dominated the eastern United States, as forecasters predict a significant warming trend beginning Tuesday (February 10).
"The last blast of Arctic air in the long train of cold waves will cycle through the Northeast into Monday," said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. "However, after that, warmer air already building in the West and High Plains will move east."
The warming follows a particularly brutal weekend for the Northeast, where New York City plunged to 3 degrees on Sunday morning – its coldest temperature in three years. The recent weather pattern created a stark national divide, with frigid conditions east of the Rockies while the West experienced record warmth.
According to the National Weather Service, "Well-above average temperatures will spread from the Mississippi Valley/Southeast Monday into much of the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic Tuesday, while New England at least warms close to average."
By Tuesday, forecast highs will range from the 20s and 30s in New England to 60s and 70s in the Lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast. The central United States could see temperatures more than 20 degrees above normal later in the week.
The dramatic shift comes after weeks of persistent cold in the East. Washington, DC, for example, experienced its sixth longest stretch of consecutive hours below freezing from January 24 to February 2.
Meteorologists attribute the prolonged cold pattern partly to the Arctic Oscillation, which has remained in a negative phase for over a month – an unusual duration that created a wavier jet stream bringing Arctic air southward.
The warming will be gradual in areas with extensive snow cover and frozen waterways. "During the middle and latter parts of the week, some days will bring temperatures near or slightly above freezing with the February sun to help. The buildup of ice on area rivers, lakes and bays will stop," Sosnowski explained.
Despite the warmer temperatures, winter weather concerns remain. A clipper system will bring wintry precipitation to the Upper Great Lakes on Monday, followed by moderate snow for Upstate New York and central New England on Tuesday. Another storm could affect the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast by next weekend.
Forecasters warn that even with the temperature increase, conditions may still support snow, sleet or freezing rain in some areas. Motorists should remain cautious as daytime melting could refreeze at night, creating hazardous travel conditions.