Unseasonably Cold Temperatures on Tap for Much of the Nation This Week

Posted: March 7, 2022 4:11 pm

The central U.S. is about to get another taste of winter this week just when it felt like spring was here to stay. A drastic shift in the temperatures across a large area of the country is on the way as the mercury drops to readings that are more reminiscent of the deep of winter.

Dramatic Weather Shift in Store

Some parts of the Plains and Great Lakes have already seen this change in weather. A mass of cold air dropped into the central U.S. late Sunday, pushing out the warm air that settled into the region over the weekend. The cold air also came with a dose of accumulating snowfall. This frigid air is forecast to push to the east on Tuesday.

Even colder air will set up as the week continues with the coldest temperatures making an appearance beginning on Wednesday and continuing through Thursday. By Thursday afternoon, the temperatures are predicted to fall to nearly 20 degrees below average for this time of the year throughout the northern Plains.

For instance, the forecast high on Thursday in Minneapolis is only 19 degrees, a vast departure from the average mid-March reading of 37 degrees. It will only be about 14 degrees in Fargo, North Dakota thanks to the mass of Arctic air.

This shift in temperatures will feel even more dramatic to the areas that have been enjoying unseasonably warm weather in recent days. Some cities in South Dakota will experience a temperature swing of about 40 degrees over a period of a week.

Looking at the Precipitation Forecast

While the Arctic air will initially bring dry conditions, a storm along the southern ridge of this system will build by the middle of the week. This storm is predicted to dump snow in the Rocky Mountains before moving into the Midwest.

The most significant snow accumulations are expected to be in the higher terrains of the Rockies with widespread accumulation eventually spreading into South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin by Thursday. Motorists in these states should be prepared for the potential of slippery roads, particularly along Interstate 80.

Even Colder Air to Close Out the Week

Even colder conditions are expected to settle into this zone at the end of the week. As the storm moves farther to the east, clearing skies will bring the mercury down even more. Some parts of the North Central states may see record-breaking overnight low temperatures on Friday morning.

Cities such as Denver, Colorado Springs, Omaha, and Minneapolis are forecast to be hovering in the single digits early Friday. It will be even colder in the extreme northern High Plains with the temperatures plunging below zero, making it feel more like January than the middle of March.

This second blast of cold air for the week will expand farther than the first round. The below freezing temperatures may reach as far as Texas by early Saturday morning. This means that cities such as Tulsa and Oklahoma City could see temperature readings in the teens.

It will be the East Coast that sees the unseasonably cold temperatures for the weekend. A possible dip in the jet stream and another round of precipitation could push this cooling weather farther to the southeast.

While it will not be the best weekend to soak up the sun for much of the eastern half of the country, another warm-up is on the way for the following week. With any luck, this may be the last time that many people have to dig out their heavy winter coats.

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