Pattern Change Cools Off the East and West, Heat Up the Plains and Rockies | The Weather Channel
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USA National Forecast

Here's what we're watching in the coming days.

ByBrian DoneganMay 31, 2020

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A pattern shift this weekend into the week ahead will bring a few notable changes across the United States. The changes include cooler and less humid weather in the East, building heat in the central U.S. and cooler temperatures with some rain for parts of the West Coast.

These changing conditions are due to different jet stream pattern emerging over the Lower 48 states. This weekend, the jet stream is bulging northward over the Rockies and expanding into the Plains, resulting in several days of hot conditions there. Meanwhile, southward dips in the jet stream have developed over the Northeast and Northwest, allowing cooler air to return to those regions.

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Cooler, Less Humid in the East

A cold front has moved eastward across the East this weekend, wiping away the recent heat and humidity as cooler, drier air returns to those regions.

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Temperatures will be several degrees below average on Sunday in the Northeast.

That translates to highs holding in the 50s to around 60 degrees in northern New England and the higher elevations of upstate New York, with 60s for most of the Northeast and 70s from the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic to parts of the Southeast. Lows will dip into 40s for much of the Great Lakes and Northeast, with 30s and some frost in spots.

There will even be slightly less heat and humidity as far south as Florida by early week.

(MAPS: Weekly Planner)

Five-Day Forecast

Heat Builds in the Central U.S. But Eases in the West

The northward bulge of the jet stream over the Plains and Rockies will allow heat to build this weekend into early week. Temperatures will soar 10 to 25 degrees above average. That means widespread 80s and 90s are likely as far north as Montana and the Dakotas.

The hottest temperatures will be in portions of the Central and Southern Plains, where highs could reach the mid-90s this week.

Billings, Montana, and Casper, Wyoming, will challenge their daily record highs Sunday.

Forecast Highs

Meanwhile, the West Coast has cooled down after setting several daily record highs this past week.

As cooler air pushed into the Northwest, severe thunderstorm erupted east of the Cascades.

Wind gusts of 80-100 mph were reported from Madras to Culver to Grass Valley, Oregon, located east of the Oregon Cascades. Homes were damaged in Culver and power lines and trees were downed.

Trees were downed in northeastern Oregon, Saturday evening.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

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