Big Temperature Changes Ahead as a Cold Front Pushes Eastward This Week

World's First Chief Heat Officer's Tips

The recent pattern of above-average temperatures will come crashing to a halt in this first week of February as colder conditions return to many areas of the United States.

A surge of warm air brought springlike temperatures to much of the U.S. during the first weekend of February. Temperatures in the 50s, 60s and 70s were widespread from the Plains to the Midwest, South and parts of the East.

Several cities set or tied daily record highs on Sunday, including Denver, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee and Green Bay, Wisconsin.

However, big changes are ahead this week. A low-pressure system is moving into the central U.S., ushering in colder temperatures and will also spread snow, rain and thunderstorms across the country.

(MORE: Winter Storm to Spread Snow From West to Plains, Midwest and Northeast This Week)

Temperatures will be 10 to 25 degrees below average across most of the West early this week and in the Southern Plains midweek.

The air mass behind the front, however, will moderate as the front pushes eastward, meaning it will not be as unusually cold for this time of year. In many cases, the front will simply push temperatures closer to average, but this will still be a noticeable change given the well above-average conditions before the front arrives.

The change in temperatures will be most dramatic in parts of the western and central United States.

After being in the mid-60s on Sunday, Kansas City will have highs around 30 degrees midweek.

In the East, temperatures will remain well above average, and daily record-warm lows are possible through midweek due to a moist southwesterly flow.

Lows will range from the 40s to the 60s from the Ohio Valley into the South before the front passes, but will return to the 20s to the 40s on the backside of the low-pressure system.

Highs in the South will also be mild, generally in the 60s and 70s, and will be replaced with temperatures topping out in the 40s and 50s mid- to late week.

By this weekend, temperatures should return to closer to average in the East as this system finally exits off the East Coast.

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