Mother Nature to do an about-face as warmth returns to Midwest, Northeast
High pressure will work its way into the Northeast this weekend and allow warm and drier weather to develop.
AccuWeather meteorologists say that time is up for winter's last stand across the eastern third of the United States as temperatures more fitting of May are expected to hold through at least Monday.
May got off to an unusually chilly start in the Midwest and Northeast. Not only was it cold, but snowflakes flew across parts of northern Michigan and the Appalachians. Some locations in Michigan wound up with several feet of snow earlier this week. In the Appalachians, up to 20 inches snow was reported near Snowshoe, West Virginia, breaking the May snowfall record for the state. In Pennsylvania, snow accumulated on roadways in higher elevations, leading to travel difficulties.
An amplified jet stream pattern, known as an Omega block, was responsible for the cold and snow. This atmospheric setup has begun to break down, which will allow the mercury to get back to or above the historical average for early May.
The temperature turnaround has already begun in Midwestern locations. After a high of just 33 degrees Fahrenheit and more than a foot of snow to start the month on May 1 in Marquette, Michigan, the mercury reached 56 degrees on Thursday. This is exactly what the historical average high is on May 4 for the city located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. A similar high of 54 F was recorded on Friday.
Farther east, the warmup has taken longer to arrive. Pittsburgh had a high temperature of just 44 degrees on Tuesday, the lowest high temperature on record for May 2 in the city. Thursday was the first time this month temperatures topped 50 degrees there. By Saturday, temperatures soared up to 75 F.
Temperatures will not only get back to the historical average for early May, but they may rise above it in some cases.
"Temperatures in Cincinnati finally rose back into the 70s this weekend and may even make a run at 80 degrees later this week" AccuWeather Meteorologist Thomas Geiger explained.
Typically in the first half of May, Cincinnati can expect a high of around 72 degrees. The city's historical average does not reach 80 degrees until June 3.
A similar story will also unfold farther to the east.
"While Washington, D.C., had an early taste of summer during April with eight days above 80 degrees, Monday is likely to be the first day at or above 80 degrees since April 21," said Geiger.
This will result in a 22-degree turnaround from the chilly 58 degrees that D.C. experienced on Wednesday. The historical average date for when the nation's capital usually reaches 80 degrees is May 28.
Temperatures will be closer to historical averages farther to the east, but it will still be a big change from the chilly start to the month.
In New York City, after a high of 73 on Saturday, temperatures in the mid 70s are expected on Sunday and Monday. For perspective, the historical average high in the city is 69 degrees at this time of year.
One factor that may hold temperatures back slightly is the abundance of moisture in the ground. Given the amount of precipitation that started the month, the sun's energy will have to go into evaporating that moisture before it can heat the air, forecasters say.
In some locations, temperatures may drop a few degrees for a day or two this week. However, afternoon temperatures are expected to rebound no later than the end of the week.
"A place like Chicago may have high temperatures in the 60s on Monday and Tuesday, but they are set to rebound into the middle or even the upper 70s by Thursday," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Courtney Travis.
High temperatures on Philadelphia on Tuesday are unlikely to surpass the upper 60s. But a high temperature near 80 degrees is within reach again by Thursday.
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