Temperature Swings Continue Throughout the Eastern Half of the US

Posted: May 4, 2021 3:36 pm

After enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures in the 80s and lower 90s over the past weekend, the mercury is expected to drop in the coming days throughout the Midwest and the Northeast. The constant yo-yo temperature swings have many residents scratching their heads and looking at their calendars.

Storms Contribute to Cooling Temperatures

A storm system trekked through the Midwest on Monday, bringing cooling temperatures and setting the stage for a period of active weather. The jet stream is dipping down lower than usual for this time of the year, causing the mercury to plummet along with it. The cool temperatures will begin in earnest on Tuesday night and continue for a few days before they begin to rebound again.

What to Expect

A number of major metropolitan areas will see temperatures drop to between 5 and 15 degrees before normal for the beginning of May on Tuesday and Wednesday. When compared to the warmer than average temperatures of late, this swing will feel even more severe. Cities that can expect a significant cooldown include Omaha, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati.

Frost a Possibility

It is going to be borderline freezing in the coldest spots in the overnight hours on Tuesday and into Wednesday. The promising news is that an increasing cloud cover paired with breezy conditions may work together to keep temperatures slightly above freezing in most areas. However, it is a good idea to check your local forecast to determine if you need to cover plants or bring them inside because of the predicted low temperatures.

Warmth Followed by Cooling in the Northeast

The storm system that battered the Midwest on Monday and Tuesday will move into the Great Lakes region by the end of the day Tuesday. Ahead of this system, storms will be up to 15 degrees above normal in the Northeast. However, this warmth will be short-lived.

Temperatures will drop into the 50s and 60s throughout much of the eastern half of the nation in the latter part of the week when the jet stream dips southward and a cold front moves in. These cooler than average temperatures may drop as far south as Atlanta by the end of the workweek.

Like the Midwest cold spell, it is not expected to drop below freezing in most areas. However, should this occur, it would happen in the overnight hours of Thursday and into Friday. The most likely location to see a hard freeze would be the northern reaches of New England.

Warming Pattern on Tap

A warming pattern will begin to emerge throughout the Midwest by the end of the week when the jet stream retreats northward, taking the cool air back with it. However, the Northeast will not likely see the rise in the mercury until the beginning of next week. This means it will generally be a cooler than average Mother’s Day weekend for much of the East Coast with temperatures in the 50s and 60s.

Recent Posts