The majority of the U.S. is in line for a major change in weather this week, with the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing new forecasts running from Tuesday, Dec. 16, through the Christmas holiday.
“A pattern change will allow millions to warm up before Christmas,” the Weather Channel stated in a Tuesday, Dec. 16, report. “Areas in the Northern Plains that saw temperatures below zero this past weekend will now see highs soar into the 40s Tuesday and Wednesday. The Weather Channel adds that the warm weather pattern will move east Wednesday, Dec. 17, through Friday, Dec. 19, as the next cold front moves into the Northern Tier, but the Southwest will remain warm.
Meteorologists Warn of Stark Change
According to reports from both the National Weather Service and the Weather Channel, it’s going to get so warm across the U.S. that “dozens of record highs and record warm lows will be in jeopardy into next week.” The Weather Channel also notes that snow will “rapidly melt this week” as temperatures stay well above average long enough to melt the snow at a fast pace.
As for which states will see this weather change, the warmup will cover the majority of America, roughly 46 states. According to a weather map from the NWS, the only states that aren’t in line for a major warmup are in the very upper central U.S.
“Areas in the Northern Plains that saw temperatures below zero this past weekend will now see highs soar into the 40s by Tuesday and Wednesday,” the Weather Channel notes.
Additional Weather Patterns Across the U.S.
Atmospheric rivers have also been impacting the U.S. and making travel hazardous. According to the Weather Channel, the next round of atmospheric rivers are set to hit the West Coast from Washington to Oregon and Northern California this week.
“Moderate to major river flooding is possible Tuesday into Wednesday on some of the same rivers that experienced record flooding last week, they note in a report released on Tuesday, Dec. 16. “Snow levels will drop, so expect several feet of snow across the Cascades, while a widespread 3-8 inches of rain could fall closer to the coast.”
