Spring teaser: Blount to enjoy warmer temperatures this week
From Staff Reports
After several weeks of frigid temperatures, Blount County and the surrounding area will experience a little preview of spring this week.
According to Andrew Pritchett, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Morristown, a high pressure ridge is building in the early part of this week, with winds over the course of the week from the Gulf and the southwest direction turning out warmer conditions.
Highs will be in the upper 50s and could even reach the low 60s but by next week may drop back to colder temperatures.
“It will get more down towards seasonable levels toward next week, but there is some uncertainty, particularly in the early part of next week,” Pritchett said. “We will get more towards reality back in the 40s and maybe 50s. But at least for the next six to seven days, people can enjoy milder weather.”
According to AccuWeather, temperatures will surge over much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation this week into the weekend before the advance of arctic air.
Steering winds, known as the jet stream, will retreat northward from the Rockies and Plains to the Midwest, South and mid-Atlantic.
Average temperatures are usually at their lowest point during this part of January. However, temperatures will trend to 10 to 20 degrees above normal during the warm-up event. Places without snow cover will warm up the quickest.
The sun’s energy will focus on melting the snow rather than warming the ground, where there is significant snow cover.
The warm-up may be deceiving in some locations and to some people. Long nights and episodes of clear skies and light winds will allow temperatures to drop substantially after dark.
“When you compare temperatures during the height of the warm-up with the core of the arctic air that follows, some locations may have a difference of 40 degrees or more,” said Paul Pastelok, long range weather expert.
