Northeast to go on wild temperature roller-coaster ride

AccuWeather forecasters say residents in the Northeast will experience a serious case of weather whiplash this week as some areas could approach the 70s later this week before temperatures plummet yet again.

Residents in the Northeast can expect a topsy-turvy stretch in terms of temperatures this week, AccuWeather forecasters say.

The back-and-forth nature of the weather this week will have some alternating between warm and cold weather attire on back-to-back days. A substantial warmup will unfold during the middle of the week only days after the coldest air of the season rushed into the region. But that warmth will be short-lived as a cold front is expected to pull temperatures down dramatically once again.

Much of the East had a hectic weekend as a storm brought drenching rain and even severe thunderstorms to the region. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed that at least 12 tornadoes struck the region on Saturday, an unusual feat for the middle of November.

Then, an Alberta clipper brought the first accumulating snow to parts of the Northeast. Snow began sticking on Highway 33 in West Virginia on Sunday night, while portions of northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania reported anywhere from 2 to 5 inches as of early Monday morning.

This clipper also brought unusually chilly conditions to the region, and residents may need to grab a hat and gloves before they step out the door through Wednesday morning.

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"Temperatures began this week a general 3 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit below normal in the Northeast and across much of the mid-Atlantic states," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Carl Babinski.

While New York City and Philadelphia typically have highs in the middle 50s in mid-November, temperatures struggled to approach 50 F on Tuesday.

Warmth will begin to build across the region at midweek, and temperatures will bounce back into the 60s in many locations by Thursday afternoon. The Big Apple is forecast to have highs in the middle 60s on Thursday, which is over 10 degrees above average for the city. Philadelphia will have temperatures in the 60s one day earlier, with a high in the lower 60s in the forecast for Wednesday. The City of Brotherly Love could even approach 70 on Thursday.

"A shift in the prevailing winds to the south and southwest will help pull this much milder air northward," Babinski explained.

Thanks to this flow of air, more northern cities such as Boston will likely feature temperatures in the 60s on Thursday. The average high temperature for Nov. 18 in Boston is 51. New Englanders may want to get outside and enjoy the mild weather because forecasters say the heavy coats will be needed by the weekend.

"A cold front is expected to trigger showers later on Thursday, Thursday night and Friday morning before the roller coaster makes a drastic dip once again," said Babinski.

High temperatures on Friday are expected to be only in the 40s and 50s again along much of the Interstate 95 corridor and may struggle to top 40 in the Appalachians as residents hold on tight during this period of weather whiplash. A new round of lake-effect snow will accompany the late-week chill.

"This weekend, most temperatures should be no higher than the 40s," said Babinski.

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