Major Pattern Shift across the Country

The major cold that most of the nation is currently experiencing willthankfully abate late this week into this weekend from west to east.The jet stream, which is a current of fast-moving air, is responsible for thefrigid cold over the center and eastern part of the country. The major dip thejet stream will take Tuesday night into Wednesday will open the floodgates toall of the arctic air that has been sitting over central Canada.

A large ridge of high pressure off the West Coast will break down Thursday intoFriday, allowing the jet stream to smooth out and be more west-to-eastoriented. This will, in turn, push the core of the cold back north leaving onlyNew England to shiver by this weekend. Meanwhile, the West will begin to cooldown by the weekend.