Could the metro-east get blasted by Arctic air? When forecast says temps will drop
Climate experts forecast possible disturbances in the polar vortex soon, and the metro-east is expected to see colder-than-usual temperatures at the start of December.
The polar vortex is “a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles,” according to the National Weather Service.
“At the Arctic cap, there’s a bunch of super cold air that stays there for the most part, but when the flow surrounding, the southern periphery of that air is kind of weak, it’s more able to shift downward toward our area,” Lydia Jaja, meteorologist with the NWS St. Louis office, said in a Nov. 24 interview with the News-Democrat.
“That is going to result in Arctic air reaching us and cooler temperatures,” Jaja added.
In the short-term, the metro-east is likely to see colder than usual temperatures. The Climate Prediction Center reports the region has a 33 to 40% chance of below-normal temperatures from Monday, Dec. 1 to Sunday, Dec. 7, and cool temperatures are also expected for Thanksgiving week.
Snow is possible in Belleville Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29, according to the NWS, although it’s too early to accurately predict exact timing or potential snowfall amounts, Jaja said.
Although Belleville residents may see snow soon, and colder temperatures are expected for early December, Jaja said a super intense winter is not expected. The CPC’s forecast says the metro-east has equal chances of above- or below-normal temperatures from December through February, with a 40 to 50% chance of above-normal precipitation.
Since Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28 are busy travel days after the Thanksgiving holiday, Jaja said it’s especially important to be up-to-date on the forecast and keep an eye out for any adverse driving conditions before hitting the road.
It’s also a good idea to check your tires’ conditions and consider packing a go-bag for winter travel, Jaja continued. Recommended items include a flashlight with extra batteries, first-aid kit, snow shovel, ice scraper, blankets or a sleeping bag, booster cables, nonperishable food, water, sand or cat litter for traction and a cell phone and charger.
The latest Thanksgiving week forecast for Belleville, IL
Here’s what kind of weather to expect in Belleville in the coming days, according to the NWS:
- Tuesday, Nov. 25: Temperatures from 37 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, with a 20% chance of rain showers after noon.
- Wednesday, Nov. 26: Temperatures from 29 to 46 degrees, with mostly sunny and mostly clear conditions.
- Thursday, Nov. 27 (Thanksgiving): Temperatures from 24 to 44 degrees, with sunny and mostly clear conditions.
- Friday, Nov. 28: Temperatures from 31 to 41 degrees, with mostly sunny skies during the day and a 50% probability of precipitation, including chances for rain and/or snow.
- Saturday, Nov. 29: Temperatures 38 to 42 degrees, with rain and snow likely during the day and rain likely at night. The chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Sunday, Nov. 30: A high temperature around 48 degrees, with a 50% chance of rain.
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