Warmer Temperatures Are Coming Next Week, But Will They Stick Around?

As March begins, winter weather is in the short-term forecast for the Corn Belt and Plains states while warmer temperatures are expected during the week of March 9.

Paul Pastelok, the lead long-range forecaster at AccuWeather, said that March is a transitional month for weather, so extreme weather swings aren’t out of the ordinary. 

Precipitation Coming to the Corn Belt and Plains

A series of storms is expected to come through California that will eventually impact the Plains, Pastelok said. “Some precipitation is coming,” he said.

This comes after a dry January left much of the Corn Belt and Plains states from getting much-needed snow to alleviate drought conditions, Pastelok said. 

Some snow is expected in the forecast for Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois from March 6 into the morning of March 7, Pastelok said. “We’re not done with snow yet,” he said, “and there could be some snow that will lay on the ground.”

Ohio Valley Should Expect Flooding

For states in the Ohio Valley, Pastelok said there’s a big system that’s causing severe weather patterns with heavy rain and thunderstorms. He said these weather conditions will cause some flooding because the ground is hard as a result of freezing temperatures. 

“It doesn’t look like anyone is going to be able to do any work in the next few days,” Pastelok said.

Warmer Temperatures on Their Way

After the week of March 2, Pastelok said that “a big warmup will take place starting on Sunday, March 9, from the central Rockies into the High Plains.”

Temperatures could reach as high as 70℉ into Nebraska, Pastelok said. “It’s going to be a major turnaround from late this week into early next week.”

Those warmer temperatures will reach the Midwest from Monday, March 10, into Tuesday, March 11, Pastelok said. 

Alongside the higher temperatures, though, Pastelok said there will be “high, gusty winds.”

Cold Snap Will Return After Warm-Up

Pastelok said that the week of March 9 would be the week to do fieldwork because the weather “could start getting unsettled after that.”

Looking towards the middle of the month, Pastelok said there are two storm systems forming between March 12 and March 16 that could “bring a drop in temperatures for the middle of the country.”

Temperatures could be an average of 10 to 15℉ below the average daily temperatures, Pastelok said. 

Polar Vortex Weakens, Bringing Cold Weather Again

This cold snap is expected as the polar vortex shifts and weakens, Pastelok said. “The polar vortex has been strong most of the winter,” he said. “It will weaken later this week.”

When the polar vortex weakens, Pastelok said it allows the cold air that is kept in the upper atmosphere to escape and cause “chilly and cold” weather.

“Soil temperatures won’t warm up,” Pastelok said, “and the middle part of the country will suffer.”

Frost issues could impact the Midwest, Pastelok said, while the Gulf Coast is expected to remain warm. 

“If the polar vortex does what it’s supposed to do, this pattern [of cold weather] could be locked in for the next three weeks,” Pastelok said.