Winter To Take A Parting Shot At The Northeast (UPDATE)

After a prolonged mild spell in the eastern US, some changes are coming this weekend into early next week. Earlier in the month, the UK Met Office, and some other weather entities, indicated that there would be a significant warming of the stratosphere. This warming did occur and the upper level atmospheric pattern has changed a bit with the jet stream dipping into the eastern US. This is allowing some colder air to come down from Canada. (see headline graphic). At the same time, a storm system will develop along the East Coast this weekend, as winter officially ends and spring begins. The result will be colder temperatures and snow.

It's looking more and more like the storm track will be farther east with highest chance of significant snow across eastern Long Island and coastal SE New England (with snow showers farther west into Upstate NY)

Temperatures will be chilly through early next week. The chill will even be felt where I am (north of Atlanta, GA). There will be no more highs in the 80s for quite awhile. In fact, Sunday highs will hold in the 50s and freezing temperatures are likely in northern Georgia by Monday morning. Frost and freeze advisories will be likely across northern portions of the Southeast so it would be a good idea to delay planting for awhile and protect tender vegetation.

This shot of cold air will be short-lived as temperatures quickly moderate by midweek. There will be another storm next week to deal with. The main impact from this will be rain (in areas that don't need more) and some severe weather but I will have more on that later. I will be updating details on the upcoming East Coast storm as more guidance becomes available.

Follow me on twitter  @TomMoorewx