Storm Forms Off Atlantic Coast, Bringing Moisture to Mid-Atlantic and Northeast This Week

Posted: February 7, 2022 2:54 pm

A new storm has developed off the east coast of Florida to close out the weekend, spelling more winter weather for parts of the mid-Atlantic and New England heading into the new week. While the winter weather is still the dominant storyline out east, the West Coast is going to feel more like spring. Here is an overview of what you can expect this week.

East Coast Storm

A new storm popped up off of the Florida coast on Sunday, bringing isolated showers to the Sunshine State to close out the weekend. This low pressure system is predicted to move to the northeast along the East Coast on Monday and Tuesday.

The storm will be positioned off the coast of the Carolinas by Monday. Residents in this region should expect rain throughout the day as the storm moves up the Eastern Seaboard. While the storm is not expected to bring any significant weather, it may impact travel as rain becomes steadier throughout the day.

The moisture will continue to move to the north, encountering colder temperatures the farther that it travels. This will bring the potential of wintry precipitation as it moves into colder air.

Those along the Interstate 95 corridor stretching from Washington, D.C. to New York City may experience fog and drizzle to start the week. Depending on the mercury readings at the time, some roadways and sideways may ice up.

New England in the Bullseye for Snow

The most significant weather will likely be throughout New England. The greatest amount of snow accumulation is forecast for the interior portions of Maine. Some parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire may also pick up measurable snowfall by Tuesday.

Those in Boston may get a break from the snow. The temperature is predicted to hover just high enough for the precipitation to fall as rain. The most likely scenario is that the suburbs located to the west and north of the city will see a wintry mix beginning late Monday and continuing into Tuesday.

The Northeast may also see some wintry precipitation out of a few Alberta clippers that are set to move through the area sporadically throughout the week. A series of clippers are forecast to dive down from Canada into the northern Plains and Upper Midwest before tracking into the Northeast.

West Coast to Feel Like Spring

Temperatures will be above normal for much of the week out west with some areas possibly breaking daily records. Although this will be a nice break from the cold of winter, the stagnant weather pattern will also bring the potential of poor air quality and a greater risk of fire danger.

A high pressure system is going to position itself over Northern California and Oregon in the coming days, bringing air flow to a halt. As a result of this stationary ridge of high pressure, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Portland has preemptively issued an air stagnation advisory for the first part of the week. The warning asks residents to avoid outdoor burning.

Dry Conditions and Warm Temperatures Abound

Because of a lack of moisture flowing in from the Pacific Ocean, the West Coast is also going to see itself in a dry pattern. However, the main story will be the warmth. Although places like Portland may only see the mercury rise about 5 degrees above average for this time of the year, other areas may see records fall.

For instance, the high temperature in Medford, Oregon may inch up enough on Wednesday to break the daily record of 70 degrees. Thursday will be another warm day with the forecasted high in the lower 70s.

The heat will also be on in Northern California. The mercury is expected to shoot up into the lower 80s by the end of the week. Cities such as Redding, Fresno, San Francisco, and Sacramento all may break daily records by Thursday. Temperatures in the lower 80s will be quite the departure from the norm of about 60 degrees in early February.

What About Southern California?

Meanwhile, the Santa Ana winds will be at it again in Southern California. This wind event is predicted to whip up on Wednesday and last through Thursday. Wind gusts of 40 – 60 mph may be an issue through the canyons and passes that run north to south. The combination of these high winds and the higher than average temperatures could spell trouble for wildfire risks.

Despite some heavy precipitation as of late, more than 60% of the state of California is still considered to be in a severe drought, according to the latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. The situation is even more dire in Oregon with almost 75% of the state still under a severe drought designation.

Despite the unlikelihood of record temperatures this week in Southern California, it will still feel toasty for the middle of the winter. Daily highs will average about 10 degrees above normal for cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego by the end of the week. Residents of Los Angeles will be basking in the sunshine when the mercury climbs into the lower 80s on Wednesday and Thursday.

However, forecasters are warning residents to be ready for gusty winds. This is a good time to secure any unsecured objects in your yard before the winds move down from the mountains.

These strong offshore winds are expected to stick around well into next week.

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