The above-average temperatures enjoyed by much of the United States over the past week will continue for at least the next 7 days, according to numerical prediction models. Unfortunately, a severe drought continues to rage across much of the nation, and it appears there will not be significant relief from those affected areas. Thankfully, the damaging "Pineapple Express" systems riding the jet stream and slamming into the West Coast, doing massive amounts of damage, have ceased for now.
Here is a look at the National Weather Service's current 3-7 day hazard assessment. Weather models are forecasting an area of low pressure to develop later this week near the Great Lakes, creating a large cold front extending into the Gulf of Mexico and bringing potential rainfall totals over an inch to some eastern states, as well as some snow to the Midwest.
Overall, boring but comfortable pattern stays boring and comfortable -- for most of us, anyway. Enjoy it while it's here, because this is only the beginning of winter 2012-13. The GFS has hinted at the beginnings of a large dip in the jet stream and associated cold air outbreak... in 2 1/2 weeks.
Ari Brown
Forecaster, AnalystWeather
