Andy_Johnson's Blog

A few days ago I noticed that the temperature in Fort Yukon, Alaska was -61 degrees. We haven't seen readings like that in quite some time. Eventually, as cold air builds over Alaska, it releases into the lower 48 states. That is happening now with bitterly cold air in the Northern Plains.

However, the upper level winds are not favorable to bring the really cold air into Florida. The brunt of the cold blast will move off of the eastern seabord. In order for us to get really cold here ususally the cold  air mass has to enter the country from Canada into Montana. When the cold air mass enters the country in the eastern Dakotas and Minnesota, it usually ends up moving too far east to cause a freeze here.

Since the whole atmosphere is connected, it amazing that we have to look so far away (to Alaska sometimes) to figure out our own 7-day forecast.