Widespread Temperature Surge Affects 240 Million A reconfigured jet stream has lifted temperatures well above normal for several days, blanketing roughly 240 million Americans in unseasonal warmth and reshaping the early‑January weather picture after late‑year Arctic blasts [1][2]. Forecast models show highs running 20‑30 °F above typical January values across large swaths of the country [1][2]. The anomaly is expected to persist for multiple days, creating a temporary break from the usual winter chill [1][2]. Meteorologists caution that the spike does not eliminate winter conditions entirely [1][2].

Jet‑Stream Shift Drives Milder Air Northward NOAA forecaster Anthony Fracasso explains that the jet stream has lifted north into Canada, opening a pathway for milder air to surge into the central, southern, southeastern, and eastern United States [1][2]. This reconfiguration is the primary mechanism behind the widespread temperature rise [1][2]. The altered pattern allows warm air masses to dominate regions that normally experience sub‑freezing temperatures in January [1][2]. The shift is reflected in the Climate Prediction Center’s outlook, which projects continued above‑average warmth through mid‑January [1][2].

Southern States See Near‑Record Highs Temperatures along the Texas Gulf Coast are forecast to climb into the mid‑80s, with Austin and Del Rio poised to break daily high records on consecutive days [1][2]. The central Plains are expected to reach the 60s, representing departures of 20‑30 °F from the seasonal norm [1][2]. Mid‑Atlantic and Midwest cities such as Kansas City, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta are projected to hit the mid‑50s, around 64 °F, and the 70s respectively, far exceeding typical January highs [1][2]. These spikes illustrate the breadth of the warm spell from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast [1][2].

Outlook Extends Warm Spell, February Remains Cold The Climate Prediction Center’s 8‑ to 10‑day outlook indicates that much of the central and western United States will stay warmer‑than‑average into mid‑January [1][2]. Despite the current warmth, forecasters emphasize that February historically ranks among the coldest months, suggesting a return to typical winter conditions after the brief respite [1][2]. The outlook underscores that the present warm spell is a temporary deviation rather than a permanent shift in the season [1][2].