A pattern change on a grand scale is occurring across North America this week.If you remember back to last week, the jet stream came across California thenturned sharply northward. This caused major storms to crash into the WestCoast, and a major January thaw was enjoyed from the Great Plains to the EastCoast.
Currently it's a whole other deal. The jet stream has returned to a patternthat much more resembles what existed in December. Back then, if you recall,much of the nation was in the deep freeze, and that's where we are going again.
At least that is where the central and eastern parts of the country are headed.
The West probably won't feel any extreme cold for the next 6 to 10 days.
The colder pattern will be augmented by an active southern storm track. Thefirst winter storm of the series will hit the South Central states Thursday,then it will dump snow on Kentucky and the Virginias Friday and Friday night.
Story By AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.
