Long-Term Forecast For Rest Of Winter In Connecticut Released

Brutal cold started off the month, but in recent days milder temperatures have brought about a January thaw. So what does the rest of the winter have in store? Will the bitter Arctic air return? Or will we enjoy milder weather for the duration of the season?

The Weather Channel has some new insight.

In a recent long-term forecast update, meteorologists from the Weather Channel put their heads together to come up with a prediction for the rest of winter. The news isn't great, unless you're looking for another blast of really cold weather.

Much of the northern tier of the United States should expect colder-than-average temperatures to end winter and begin spring, the Weather Channel says. Connecticut is even expected to see below normal temps from March into May, according to the Weather Channel.

"We expect a significant pattern shift toward colder temperatures in the eastern U.S. by mid-February," Chief Meteorologist Todd Crawford said in a news release. This is due to changes in the upper levels of the atmosphere, Crawford said. Temperatures in Connecticut will be at or slightly below average, the Weather Channel predicts.

But the cold air isn't expected in all of the country. La Niña conditions will linger through February, which typically results in a ridge of high pressure near the Southeast, limiting the cold in the region, Crawford said.

In the short-term the forecast for Connecticut call for temps above normal to end January and to begin February before colder weather is expected to return during the middle of the month.

The National Weather Service also says the short-term forecast is "[Winter on Vacation] After a bitterly cold start to January, there is high confidence that temperatures will average above normal for the rest of the month."

According to the Weather Channel's 10-day forecast for Connecticut through Feb. 4, temps will largely be above freezing and there will be several days in the mid 40s and even into the 50s. And as of right now, there is no snow in the forecast through Feb. 4, but as we know that can definitely change.

Rain is expected Monday and Tuesday of this week and not again until Sunday and Monday of the following week.

You can read the full long-term winter forecast here.

PHOTO: Pixabay

Written by Kara Seymour and Brian McCready, Patch Staff