When will record cold relinquish its grip on western US?
By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist
February 22, 2018, 2:21:53 PM EST
Share this article:
The unseasonably cold air that has settled over the western United States will be in no hurry to leave into the end of February.
A seesaw temperature pattern has set up across the country, with record-challenging warmth in the East and temperatures well below late February normals on the opposite coast.
“The persistent dip in the jet stream will continue for the remainder of the week, bringing unseasonably cold conditions to the West,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun said.
The number of cities that will challenge record lows will dwindle as the week progresses, when compared to Monday night. It will remain cold enough for residents to bundle up in the mornings, crank up the heat and take precautions against frozen pipes.
“Temperatures will average 6 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit below normal across the Southwest and along the West Coast, and between 10 and 20 degrees below normal across the northern Rockies,” Rathbun said.
The Interstate 5 corridor from Seattle and Portland, Oregon, to Redding, Sacramento and just west of Bakersfield, California, can expect overnight lows in the 20s and 30s on a nightly basis into the weekend.
“Parts of California will deal with frost on a daily basis, which can kill plants sensitive to cold and damage outdoor vegetation,” Rathbun said.
Preventative measures may need to be taken, such as bringing plants indoors overnight or placing a protective covering over them.
RELATED:
Winter Olympics 2018: Gusty wind fears prompt adjustments to late-week Alpine skiing events
How human coping mechanisms for climate change are impacting endangered animals
Why winter weather likely didn't impact the market volatility
AccuWeather Senior Agricultural Meteorologist Dale Mohler expects the heartier crops, such as thick-rind oranges, not to sustain widespread damage during the cold snap.
Mohler stated that non-citrus crops over the Central Valley will be most susceptible to damage in the cold conditions.
Any Pacific storm that plows through the cold air will provide opportunities for snow, even in some lower elevations.
Enough snow fell in Portland on Tuesday night to slow traffic and cause spin-outs on the slick roads, and another few inches of snow fell in the same area on Wednesday night.
A second system will drop in late this week with spotty snow from the Sierra Nevada to the central and southern Rockies.
This storm could even bring a few rain showers to coastal Southern California.
Yet another storm will plow into the Pacific Northwest over the weekend.
The calendar flip from February to March may not signal the return of warmth that some residents may be hoping for.
We expect the chilly pattern to persist in the West, especially the Northwest, into the beginning of March, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jack Boston.
Boston anticipates the pattern to produce more opportunities for rain and mountain snow for the Pacific states and Southwest, including California.
More Weather News
-
Cyclone Idai flood catastrophe: Estimates of more than 1,000 dead as 'inland ocean' forms in Mozambique
Weather News - March 21, 2019, 12:11:00 PM EDT
More than a thousand people are feared dead in Mozambique and Zimbabwe as the flood catastrophe caused by Tropical Cyclone Idai rages on. Drier weather is expected to finally return later this weekend.
-
Maine to New Brunswick, Canada, at risk for rapid snowmelt and flooding from storm to end week
Weather News - March 21, 2019, 11:51:50 AM EDT
A combination of factors may come together to unleash a rapid flooding event across the central and southeastern portions of Maine and New Brunswick from Thursday night to Friday night.
-
Why weather keeps throwing MLB curveballs and how it impacted 6 memorable games
Weather News - March 21, 2019, 11:53:04 AM EDT
Weather and the expanded MLB schedule have created unforgettable moments for baseball fans
-
Stunning satellite photo shows what the vernal equinox looked like from 22,300 miles away
Weather News - March 21, 2019, 12:08:21 PM EDT
A NOAA satellite image shows how the vernal equinox divides the Earth, a phenomenon that's as fleeting as it is breathtaking
-
The devastation from these 2 catastrophic 2018 Atlantic hurricanes was so intense, their names will never be used again
Weather News - March 21, 2019, 10:11:42 AM EDT
The names of two catastrophic storms, which wreaked havoc and claimed lives during the 2018 season, have been retired by the World Meteorological Organization.
-
Warm spell to hold firm across UK into Friday
Weather News - March 21, 2019, 7:11:42 AM EDT
Despite plenty of cloud overhead, Friday will feature a continuation of the mild spell across most of the United Kingdom.
-
Central US to remain underwater for weeks to come as historic river flooding continues
Weather News - March 21, 2019, 7:13:26 AM EDT
The flooding disaster that continues to unfold over the central United States is likely to continue well into April, putting more communities and farmland at risk.
-
Photos: Last supermoon of 2019 awes spectators
Weather News - March 21, 2019, 10:32:52 AM EDT
The third and final supermoon of the year lit up the sky on Wednesday night.
TRENDING NOW
The devastation from these 2 catastrophic 2018 Atlantic hurricanes was so intense, their names will never be used again
The names of two catastrophic storms, which wreaked havoc and claimed lives during the 2018 season, have been retired by the World Meteorological Organization.
Read Story
Entire Missouri town evacuated as historic flooding rages on throughout the central US
Historic river flooding rages on throughout much of the central United States following a 'bomb cyclone' that struck the region last week.
Read Story
Comments
Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.