Blast of arctic air set to chill the eastern US
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Central Texas is forecast to reach near-record high temperatures on Friday but a big pattern change is expected this weekend into early next week.
The polar jet stream will take a deep dive across the eastern U.S. spilling widespread cooler-than-normal temperatures for millions.
The first freeze is on the way for several states including along the Gulf Coast. Cities as far south as Jacksonville, Florida, will be near-freezing Tuesday morning.
Why are temperatures plummeting so far south? It’s all because of a strong dip in the polar jet stream.
The polar jet stream is a high-latitude conveyor belt of westerly winds and acts like a barrier between polar and subtropical air masses.
When the polar jet stream “dips” south, cold Canadian air surges south as well, bringing prolonged cooler than normal temperatures.
These dips in the jet stream are often associated with wintry weather, and this weekend parts of the Midwest and Northeast are forecast to get accumulating snow.
Central Texas will be cooler than normal for only a couple of days, with warmer-than-normal temperatures back in the forecast by mid-week.
