Shifty weather pattern in the aftermath of Arctic blast

Weather patterns are in flux, which mostly means a relative lull in high-impact storms, at least in large-scale fashion. It probably won’t last long — in the meantime, there are still things to keep an eye on, like a first taste of spring across much of the Lower 48.

Weather Watch

Still stormin’. After a wet weekend in the Pacific Northwest, including record rainfall Saturday in Seattle of 0.80 inches, the finale is imminent. A high wind warning is up Monday for coastal areas of Washington and Oregon as a strong low passes by offshore. Wind gusts up to 60 mph or higher are expected to blow down trees and cause widespread power outages. Travel will also be difficult for high-profile vehicles. New rounds of heavy rain may develop.

Also warmin’. Most of the United States is headed warmer. Temperatures are expected to be near or above normal, except perhaps in the Northeast, according to the Climate Prediction Center. Much of the country is also forecast to see wetter than normal conditions through day 10. The West Coast may be a particularly toasty (relatively speaking) area, with records in play around Los Angeles midweek thanks to highs in the 80s to near 90.

Lightning links

Flood warnings issued in parts of UK after weekend of rain and wind.

Why the U.S. has been home to Earth’s most unusually cold air this year.

Absence of EF-5 tornadoes may be because of damage assessments, not changes in weather patterns.

Monday morning weather maps

Polar air evacuated the Lower 48 over the weekend, following last week’s chill. BUT… I’m still fascinated with it, especially given the rarity of memorable cold outbreaks these days.

More than 600 record lows occurred in the contiguous United States from February 17-22, in stations with at least 20 years of data, according to data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

Of the (as of publish) 333 records from stations with 60 or more years during the period, the highest concentration of records was centered in the Kansas/Missouri/Iowa/Nebraska region. Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Grand Island, Neb. each had three record lows. Hastings, Neb. led the way of these longest-term stations at four record lows.

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Weekday morning newsletter by a journalist/forecaster that connects weather and climate change dots while occasionally stirring the pot.

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