US weather: Warm plume to bring 20C surge as ‘storm train’ set to return next week
A ‘major’ plume of blowtorch warmth will rocket temperatures by 20 degrees as Christmas thaws into rain, floods and mudslides.
A sudden shift in the jet stream will pull tropical air from the Gulf Coast across eastern and southern states which could nudge 70F.
But as temperatures rise the storm respite will end as a stalled ‘storm train’ from the Pacific resumes its rampage.
AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said: “The storm train is expected to pick up again later this week and into early next week, bringing a series of storms to the coast.
“And after a bitterly cold weekend for the Northeast and Great Lakes, a warming trend is on the way for the eastern half of the United States.
“The jet stream is expected to lift northwards, letting milder air to advance from the Gulf Coast, and allowing temperatures across the eastern United States to climb 10F to 20F higher compared to last weekend.”
It follows a savagely cold start to the week which brought heavy snow across the Great Lakes and the Atlantic coast.
Western states were given a reprieve from storms yesterday as an “Atmospheric River’ from the Pacific threw the gears down a notch.
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But ‘Back-to-back’ storms will return in the run-up to New Year threatening floods, mudslides, and even the odd twister.
AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines said: “The stormy pattern will return right after Christmas morning.
“A parade of storms slamming the Northwest is increasing the risk of flooding, power outages and mountain avalanches this week.
“There is also an increasing risk of severe thunderstorms in the South-Central states on Thursday, so families should prepare for hail, flooding, damaging wind gusts and even isolated tornadoes.”
A warm air will sweep from the south into Arctic air sitting over the United States sparking explosive thunderstorms.
Volatile conditions will whip up isolated tornadoes while storm-struck regions brace for a shower of giant hailstones.
Severe weather after Christmas threatens to hamper travel plans for millions of holidaymakers.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Geoff Cornish said: “We have the potential for gusty thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes.
“Soaking rain and thunderstorms in Texas could cause delays at some of the big airports after Christmas.
“Severe thunderstorms could produce hail, localized damaging wind gusts of 55mph to 65mph, flooding downpours, and isolated tornadoes.”
The US National Weather Service (NOAA) has a raft of warnings in force through the week for fog, wind, snow, and ice.
A ‘very active’ storm track will resume its assault in the west as temperatures soar further south.
A NOAA spokesman said: “The very active storm track across the eastern Pacific and into the Pacific Northwest will continue to make weather headlines through Thursday.
“Periods of heavy rainfall are likely as the atmospheric river intersects the coastal terrain, with perhaps a few thunderstorms.
“Elsewhere across the country, mainly dry conditions are forecast across the Desert Southwest, Northern Plains, and most of the East Coast states except for some showers near the Florida East Coast.”
Jim Dale, US meteorologist for British Weather Services and co-author of ‘Surviving Extreme Weather’ said: “Storms will continue through the rest of the year as air masses collide, warm air from the south pushing into colder air to the north.”