Dramatic Warmup Starting Across the Eastern Half of the U.S.

Nobody will blame you for experiencing a bit of weather confusion this week if you live in the eastern half of the country. Just days after an Arctic air intrusion sent the temperatures tumbling to below freezing, record high temperatures are on deck for millions heading into the weekend. Here is a closer look at the weather whiplash impacting much of the country this week.

Record Cold Temperatures to be Replaced by Record Warmth

Record highs will be challenged over the next few days across a large swath of the U.S., fresh on the heels of the polar plunge earlier in the week. Approximately 230 million Americans could see record high temperatures in the days ahead, continuing the roller coaster of weather that has marked the month of November.

Some parts of the eastern U.S. could see temperatures reach the 80-degree mark by the end of the work week. Not only is this unusual for the middle of November, but it will feel even more dramatic after the freezing temperatures to start the week. Over 70 record low temperatures were set across the eastern third of the country just a few days ago.

A large southward dip in the jet stream paved the way for Arctic air to dive to the south and into the U.S. While the intensity of the chill was not unusual, its timing so early in the season certainly caught some people off guard. More than 190 million Americans experienced temperatures that fell below the historical average.