CHICAGO, Illinois — The weather roller coaster is not slowing down this month. Our team expects another warmer and drier spell across much of the eastern half of the country from Monday November 16 through Saturday November 21. But a low pressure system coming in from the West is set to send another cold shot right behind it.
Key Numbers at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Warm, dry spell | Monday November 16 to Saturday November 21 |
| Length of warm stretch | About 6 days |
| Warm zone | Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and South |
| Cold zone | Rockies and the West |
| Colder air arrives in the West | After Saturday November 21 |
| Main driver | Large area of high pressure over the Great Lakes |
Where It Is Hitting
A large dome of high pressure is expected to sit over the Great Lakes, bringing warmth to a wide area:
- Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit sit near the center of the warm pattern, with above normal temperatures expected.
- Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo are also in line for a mild stretch.
- St. Louis, Cincinnati and Memphis fall inside the warmer zone across the Ohio Valley and Mid-South.
- Washington, Philadelphia, Norfolk and Raleigh along the East Coast are expected to run warmer than normal.
- Minneapolis and Omaha sit near the western edge of the warm area.
Out West, it is a different story. Denver, Salt Lake City, Cheyenne, Billings and Great Falls are expected to turn colder than normal after November 21, along with Las Vegas, Flagstaff, Phoenix and Tucson.
When to Expect It
- Monday November 16: Warmer, drier weather begins to build across the eastern half of the country.
- Tuesday through Friday: The warm pattern holds, with high pressure keeping storms away from the Great Lakes and East.
- Saturday November 21: The warm spell begins to wind down as a low pressure system pushes out of the West.
- After November 21: Colder than normal air spreads across the Rockies, with the cold shot expected to move east behind it.
Why This Is Happening
Our forecast map shows a big ridge of high pressure bulging north over the Great Lakes. High pressure acts like a lid on the atmosphere, keeping skies drier and allowing warmer air to build underneath. That is why so many cities in the Midwest and East are expected to run warmer than normal.
At the same time, a low pressure system is sitting over the Southwest and moving east toward Denver. Low pressure brings clouds, storms and cooler air. As it moves out of the Rockies, it will push the warm air away and drag colder air in behind it.
What This Means for You
For people in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and much of the East, next week looks like a nice break before winter settles in. It is a good time to finish fall yard work, hang holiday lights or travel before colder weather returns.
In the West, residents should get ready for colder conditions heading into the weekend before Thanksgiving. Mountain areas could see wintry weather as the low pressure system moves through.
This pattern of warm stretches followed by quick cold shots has been happening all fall. Our team expects these ups and downs to continue through the middle of November.
How to Stay Safe
- Use the warm days to finish outdoor projects and winterize your home.
- Check your furnace and heating system before the next cold shot arrives.
- Keep layers handy, since temperatures can change quickly from one day to the next.
- Prepare for travel if you are heading through the Rockies after November 21.
- Keep an emergency kit in your car with blankets, snacks and an ice scraper.
- Follow forecast updates, since the timing of the cold shot could still shift.
Boxingessential.com will continue tracking the warm spell and incoming cold shot across Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Colorado, including Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Denver, and will provide updates as temperatures, storm timing and colder air develop.
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