Unsettled weather is in store for the United States as meteorologists forecast renewed heavy rain in California and West Coast from early next week, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). There is also a risk of flooding and freezing rain in other regions across the country in the coming hours and days, causing yet another potential travel disruption and life-threatening risks seen over the past month.
Since early January, winter storms and extreme weather conditions nationwide led to the deaths of dozens of people, with millions of Americans affected by winter weather alerts. Thousands of US flight cancellations or delays have also been reported during this period, caused by poor or reduced visibility due to heavy snow and blizzard conditions.
Amid the North American winter season, weather experts have attributed the Arctic blast to the intense US winter weather. This cold Arctic air mass, along with reported changing polar vortex in the northern hemisphere, is causing record-breaking cold temperatures this season across the US, especially in states along the northern tier of the nation.
US Winter Weather Forecast
In its updated forecast on Monday, January 22, the NWS' Weather Prediction Center (WPC) at 3:00 p.m. EST (local time) stated that concerns for heavy rain and flash flooding will occur from Tuesday to Wednesday, January 23 to January 24 across the Lower Mississippi Valley. This comes after the WPC initially warned of similar inclement weather conditions in California and across the West Coast.
In addition to the latest US winter weather forecast, similar wintry conditions with snowfall accumulation will impact parts of the Midwest, Lower Great Lakes, and the Northeast regions, according to the weather service.
Furthermore, the Eastern US has been forecasted to experience milder air with above-normal temperatures starting midweek.
The current NWS weather forecast is valid from Tuesday to Thursday, January 25. However, the outlook for this week could change since recent or previous forecasts by the US weather agency were changed or updated with little or without warning. One of the reasons behind this is the strong dynamics and overlapping of winter weather systems this month.
What Causes the Arctic Blast?
The Arctic blast, as mentioned earlier, is a weather phenomenon that pertains to the abrupt and intense descent of cold from Earth's North Pole. This Arctic air affects several countries in the northern hemisphere, including the US and its Midwest and Northeast regions. Some scientists earlier this month explained that this phenomenon is responsible for ongoing extreme cold weather in the US.
Based on a scientific article on January 12, the cold snap in the US earlier this month will be one of "the most impressive Arctic outbreaks of this century," says climate scientist Judah Cohen, who works at the Verisk Atmospheric and Environmental Research.
However, this year's Arctic blast is not expected to become as deadly as the Texas event, according to climate scientist Kristina Dahl, from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
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