US New Year’s Eve forecast 2017: NYC to face biting winds as cold grips central, eastern US

Much of the nation will greet 2018 with dry weather, but arctic chill will take hold across the central and eastern United States.

More than 107 million people will travel away from home during the holidays through Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, according to American Automobile Association (AAA) estimates.

Biting winds to end 2017 across central, eastern US

The arctic cold wave gripping the central and eastern United States for the final week of 2017 is not expected to release its grip by the time tens of thousands are celebrating New Year’s Eve.

"For those looking ahead to the New Year's holiday, the cold pattern that developed this week in the central and eastern part of the country is expected to persist for the remainder of 2017," AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Max Vido said.

A large high pressure system, which is accompanied by the cold and dry air, will suppress most of the moisture in the atmosphere to the Gulf Coast. However, the typical locations across the Great Lakes could face another round of lake-effect snow.

Temperatures on New Year’s Eve may be at least 15 degrees Fahrenheit below normal from the northern Plains and New England southward to the central Plains and the Carolinas. This includes the cities of Chicago, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Oklahoma City and Raleigh.

This frigid pattern looks to continue into the first week of 2018.

There is a chance that moisture from the Southern states takes a northward turn and brings a period of snow, instead of a dry sweep of air. More information will follow on this possible storm as the week progresses.

Wet weather may dampen New Year's Eve festivities along the Gulf Coast

The areas most likely at risk for wet weather to dampen the end of 2017 will occur along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The battleground of the cold air to the north and the warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico could assist in the development of a storm system later this weekend.

"Residents from the Texas Coast into the Southeast may have to keep their umbrellas handy for any outdoor celebrations on New Year's Eve," Vido said.

Precipitation in most areas would be in the form of rain. However, the northern edge of the precipitation could include a wintry mix, should enough cold air be in place.

Across the Pacific Northwest, enough moisture can make it to coastal areas of Washington and Oregon just in time for the new year. However, most of the wet weather will end by the time the clock strikes midnight.

Temperatures in parts of Washington and Oregon could rise back to near-normal values, including Seattle and Portland, Oregon.

Dry, mild weather to continue across the Southwest

The Southwest will endure the best weather to ring in the new year as dry weather and warmth dominates the region.

An area of high pressure in the upper levels in the atmosphere will bring sunny, dry weather to the region into 2018.

Temperatures across the Southwest will run near to well above normal on New Year's Eve. Temperatures can range between 4 to 8 degrees above normal across parts of Nevada, Utah, Arizona and California. This includes the cities of Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Phoenix.

Those from San Diego to Los Angeles and San Francisco may cool down from warmth earlier in the week to near-normal temperatures by New Year's Eve.

Light winds are expected to continue across Southern California to aid any firefighters containing wildfires.

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