Winter weather break: Pattern flips to warmth after arctic blast, deadly holiday blizzard
NOAA's 8-14 day temperature outlook issued Monday for the final days of 2022 shows a colossal pattern change that will take the entire Lower 48 states out of the ice box.
US thawing out for the New Year
FOX Weather's Brigit Mahoney explains how warm temperatures will get in the runup to the New Year's holiday.
As the nation puts the deadly blizzard and arctic outbreak in the rearview mirror, high temperatures will be nearer to record highs than record lows for much nation during the first weeks of January.
The temperature outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued for the final days of 2022 and early 2023 shows a colossal pattern change that will cause some areas to see more than an 80 degree temperature.
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Forecasters said they have high confidence in above-average temperatures starting this week and lasting well into the new year across much of the Midwest, Plains, Northeast and Southeast.
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Image 1 of 2Warm weather to kick off the New Year ( )
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Image 2 of 2Most of the country is expected to see warmer than average temperatures through the beginning of January. ( )
The warmer temperatures won't mean it'll be ideal weather to break out the shorts, but it could mean, for example, high temperatures in the Northern Plains reach above freezing when average highs are typically in the low-mid 20s. Or put another way, a welcome sight to see a 25- or 30-degree temperature without a negative sign in front of it.
Parts of Wyoming have already reported a temperature turnaround of more than 80 degrees from last week's winter blast.
The Great Lakes area, fresh off its holiday blizzard, could rebound into the 40s and 50s. The FOX Forecast Center expects parts of the South will see daily highs reach the 60s and 70s.
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Even Florida, which is coming off its coldest Christmas in more than 30 years, will likely warm back into more Florida-like temperatures that average in the upper 60s and 70s this time of year.
(FOX Weather)
The warmth is expected to expand eastward during the New Year's weekend, with more than 250 million Americans seeing above temperatures.
Even large parts of Alaska are expected to see temperatures that reach above freezing during the afternoons.
NOAA's precipitation outlook doesn't indicate that it will be a "dry heat," as confidence is leaning toward a coinciding above-average period of damp weather, particularly in the Northwest.
An atmospheric river is producing plenty of rain and wind in Washington, Oregon and parts of California, and the moisture could eventually lead to heavy snowfall over the Rockies later in the week.
(FOX Weather)