Big Changes Next Week

January 22, 2010 at 1:25PM

Winter is coming back next week! The shift to a colder pattern will start thisweekend across the North Central states, where there will be snow and blowingsnow with much lower temperatures. The cold will become really intense acrossthe northern Plains and Upper Midwest by the middle of next week, whentemperatures will drop well below zero for the first time since Jan. 9.Currently, a deep trough over the western United States is playing a dual role.

It is causing all the storminess in the West, and in that position it alsoblocks arctic air from coming down from the north. Next week, the troughposition will be in the Central and Eastern parts of the country, which is whatwill allow cold air to empty out of Canada.

In addition to the turn to colder weather next week, there are signs of anactive southern storm track. That could mean fun and games when it comes toforecasting snow and ice.

Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.

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