WASHINGTON — Following the brutal cold that impacted the Midwest last week, temperatures moderated over the weekend, even trending 10-15F above normal for some. However, colder than normal trends once again began spreading into the Northern and Central Plains by the start of this week. And although temperatures are not as frigid as last week, trends for many have been at least 10-15F below normal.
In the eastern Midwest and in the East, however, temperatures have trended well above normal for much of this week. Large areas from the South Central to the Northeast have been trending more than 15F above normal for much of the week. On Feb. 7, these trends are expected to continue. Warmer trends can be expected from Texas to the East Coast and from Wisconsin southward.
As we get into states such as Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Oklahoma, temperatures begin to shift toward the colder than normal trends. Many in the West and Plains will trend well below normal for the day. By Friday, the cold begins to push further east into states like Illinois, Arkansas and Texas. Meanwhile, the East Coast will receive one more day with temperatures well above normal.
Heading into the weekend, slightly cooler than normal trends will have pushed into the Mid-Atlantic while portions of the coastal Southeast and New England hang on to slightly above normal temperature trends. The coldest trends over the weekend are expected to impact the Northern Rockies and Northern Plains where temperatures will continue to trend at least 15F below normal.
The Dakotas and Montana currently have at least a couple inches of snow on the ground which will help to protect the winter wheat crop from this second bout of very cold weather. In states further south, like main winter wheat producing state Kansas, snow cover is lighter and spottier. Some fields will be left susceptible to the cold and have a higher chance of experiencing winterkill. In Kansas, overnight lows will fall into the teens or single digits over the next few days, with highs generally below freezing.
Taking a look at next week as a whole, temperature trends are going to split the country in half. Those from the South Central to the East Coast are expected to trend near to warmer than normal, while those from the Northern Plains to the West Coast trend colder than normal. Weekly snowfall will be heaviest in the Rockies, as well as the Northern Plains, but the Northeast could see accumulating snowfall as well.
Mid-week appears to be the greatest potential for snow in the Northeast, reaching down into the higher elevations of Virginia. Portions of the Southeast are in for a rainy week, with some areas potentially seeing more than 5 inches of rain for the week. Much of the rain is projected to fall during the first half of the week, however.
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