Beware...North to Alaska...

I would always check what was happening up in Alaska during the winter months as often 10-14 days later, that air was coming down into the lower 48.   Let's hope that doesn't happen as some brutally cold air is building up north.

Temps at mid-afternoon were 35-40 below zero and there are signs that chill will be heading south in waves.   Next week looks to be noticeably colder for most of the U.S. including the Gulf South.  One cold surge reaches us on Tuesday with another one on Friday.   What I will be looking for is whether a "Polar Vortex" develops over the Great Lakes that could drive the freezing cold down to us.  This is just a heads up that after this week, we'll turn much colder.   But before then, we will see a brief warm up.

A few showers will accompany a weak front that will stagger through after dark on Friday with only slightly cooler air following it.  We'll warm right back up Sunday Pm & Monday before that stronger front plows through on Tuesday.  I don't see any widespread rain with our first front tomorrow since satellite pictures don't show any deep return flow off the Gulf.   The next big storm off the West coast should have much deeper Gulf moisture to work with so rain chances next week will be higher.  Stay tuned!