01/05/2024

Virtually the Entire Lower 48 is About to Experience Extreme Weather

U.S. weather is about to go crazy

It's not that unusual for extreme weather to happen somewhere in the Lower 48, especially in January. As frigid air from the Arctic clashes with the milder air in the mid-latitudes, formidable storms are the norm. But for almost everyone in the contiguous United States to see wild weather in the same week is pretty extraordinary — and it is about to happen.

An exceptionally active weather pattern will send multiple large storm systems slicing across the country. Air masses will wage war, whipping up possible tornadoes and blizzards. Monster waves will batter the California coastline, while up to feet of snow and hurricane-force winds will plaster summits in the Sierra Nevada. In the East, after cold and snow this weekend, warmth and flooding rains could sweep north next week.

The meteorological mayhem, fueled by a strong El Niño climate pattern, will culminate in a possible cold air outbreak in a little more than a week that could send temperatures plummeting across much of North America.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.