Do you remember the Polar Vortex from a couple of years ago?
That was the word that LITERALLY had people shaking in their boots! Refresher course: the Polar Vortex are like tentacles of frigid air that drain south. Now that I have jogged your memory, let me tell you that the Polar Vortex is making a come back.
With that said, the Polar Vortex is not uncommon for January but it will be a shock to the system since it will come on the heels of record warmth that occurred in December.
There was some very cold arctic air that affected the northeast the first week of January but next week's outbreak will hit the Rockies and Plains then turn eastward. By the time first wave of the frigid air reaches the East early next week, it will likely have modified some but not enough to keep the potential for snow away.
The pattern will change by the second full week of January and Alberta clippers will steer southeastward. It is possible for these fast moving storms to bring a dusting to moderate snow to the mountains of Virginia and Maryland.
I'm keeping my eye on Tuesday night into Wednesday of next week because if one of these systems becomes stronger as it nears the Atlantic coast, then there could be significant snowfall in the mid-Atlantic along the I-95 corridor.
Stay Tuned!
