Will "Polar Vortex" Head Into U.S.?

There is some super cold (minus 35 to 40 below) air building over northern Canada and I always begin to pay attention once we enter December.  The "Polar Vortex" (as always) is alive and well rotating around the North Pole.  What most of us don't want is for a huge part of it to break off and head into the Great Lakes as that would drive the Arctic Chill over us.  Sure, to get some snow would be nice, but nobody wants pipe busting freezes.

The top graphic shows the Arctic cold over Canada followed by upper air charts of the Polar Vortex over the next 12 days.  There are some dips into the lower 48 states that will bring Winter to the Northern states, but there is no signs that the main Polar Vortex will plunge towards us.  That should mean the 1st 2 weeks of December will stay mild to warm.

I've drawn the upper flow on current satellite views and there is a significant storm off thwe West Coast that will soak California bring them much welcomed rain/snowfall.  Across the U.S., the flow is WSW which doesn't allow the chill to get into the southern states.  A wedge of the cold has sagged over the northern Rockies.

We will see a weak front approach on Saturday bringing a slight shower risk, but it lacks any upper support and no significantly cooler air will follow it.

In fact, we soar to near record warmth for next week.  

Satellite views paint a swath of clouds streaming out of the Gulf, but most of the radar returns are well to our north.  The bottom graphic has dew points surging into the 60s & near 70 ahead of this weak front and it could mean tomorrow will see some early low clouds and fog.

With water temps in the 50s and dew points now 60+, dense over night fog becomes an issue.  That may be the case daily for most of next week.  I will be away from my computer for several days.  Since hurricane season is over and no freezes are in sight, stay with the FOX 8 weather team for your daily updates.   I'll be back way before the cold and snow threat arrive for the last 2 weeks of the month.  Stay tuned !