Four Things To Know About This Week's Weather

The Day The Temperature Rose 103 Degrees

Many areas of the country will see changes in weather conditions as we transition from January into February this week.

Conditions closer to what you'd expect in winter, including clipper systems and chilly temperatures, will be in place in parts of the East to start the week, but mild temperatures will return for many by midweek, especially in the South.

Meanwhile, the West will continue to enjoy drier conditions early in the week before the next storm moves in mid- to late week.

Here are the four things you should know about the weather in the week ahead.

1. Clipper Snowmaker

An Alberta Clipper frontal system will be the primary snowmaker from the Upper Midwest into parts of the Northeast through Wednesday.

(MORE: Alberta Clipper Weather Pattern Bringing Snow to Midwest and East This Week)

Any snow accumulation is currently expected to be light to locally moderate, due to the typically moisture-starved nature of these systems. The best chance for moderate snowfall would be toward the Great Lakes, where the lakes could enhance snowfall.

(MORE: Major Northeast Snowstorms Have a Distinct Seasonal Peak, And It's Now)

Clipper systems are common in the winter when a dip in the jet stream develops over the East. This allows disturbances to quickly move southward from Canada into the Midwest and Northeast. Generally, light to moderate snowfall occurs with these systems, along with gusty winds and dropping temperatures.

2. California's Storm Break Ends

Multiple rounds of storms have pounded the West in January – Winter Storm Leo, most recently. However, a pattern change late last week brought a much-needed break from the siege of heavy rain and feet of snow.

The upper-level high-pressure system that is in place will allow this stretch of dry weather to persist until midweek, with the exception of portions of the northern Rockies which could see some heavy snow starting Monday night. The next low-pressure system will approach the West coast Wednesday night.

The upper-level low-pressure system will remain over the West into Friday or Saturday, along with the chance for rain and snow.

(MORE: Two of Nation's Worst Droughts See Significant Improvement)

3. Temperature Roller Coaster

Late last week, colder temperatures returned to the East, which brought an end to the above-average temperatures. Most areas, however, will only see a taste of winter as milder temperatures return in the week ahead.

Monday, we'll see temperatures near to below average in parts of the Northeast. The Plains will already experience the return of above-average temperatures by Monday.

These milder conditions will spread east in the middle of the week.

Changes are ahead for the northern tier by late week.

Temperatures will return to average or slightly below average from the Northwest through the northern and central Plains and into the Midwest, Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

Locations in the northern and central Plains, as well as parts of the Midwest, will see highs drop 10 to 20 degrees starting Wednesday, lingering into the rest of the work week.

(MAPS: 10-Day Forecast)

Areas from the southern Plains into the South will continue to experience warmer-than-average temperatures through midweek. Highs will top out in the 60s and 70s for much of this area.

4. Late-Week System?

This weekend, an area of low pressure may develop in the central U.S. Showers will form in parts of the southern Plains and into the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley as this system potentially comes together.

A mix of rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain is possible in some areas from the mid-Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes.

Precipitation is generally expected to be light at this time, but there is some chance this system could have a greater impact on the East from wintry weather Sunday and next Monday.

(MAPS: Weekly Planner)

There is uncertainty with this late-week system as far as timing, strength and its track, so be sure to check back frequently for updates.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Winter Storm Leo