Winter weather forecast: Arctic blow will send temperatures falling on the East Coast shortly before Christmas

While much of the country is now experiencing above-average temperatures, analysts predict an arctic blast will send thermometers plummeting on the East Coast this weekend, just before Christmas.

According to the National Weather Service, an arctic air mass “should bring daytime highs down to as much as 15 to 20 degrees below normal” in regions of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic on Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, the weather agency says a clipper system will bring “periods of moderate to heavy snow and gusty winds to the northern Plains and Upper Midwest/Great Lakes” in the coming days.

Winter storm watches have been issued for northern and eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Three to six inches of snow are predicted through Saturday.

“In addition, very strong, gusty winds are expected across the northern Rockies and High Plains,” the meteorological service stated. “This will lead to blowing snow and low visibility where snow is either falling or remains on the ground.”

The system will travel over the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes on Thursday, dumping moderate to heavy snow in northern Wisconsin before moving east. In areas of New England, wind chills will reach the single digits.

However, the cold spell will only last a short time.

According to the meteorological service’s Climate Prediction Center’s long-term projection, above-average temperatures are expected to spread across much of the country by the middle to end of next week.

Aside from heavy rain in the Pacific Northwest, no severe weather concerns are expected through December 24.

A record number of holiday travelers is predicted.

That’s excellent news for the record number of Americans scheduled to travel throughout the holiday season.

AAA predicts that 119.3 million individuals will travel 50 miles or more between Saturday, December 21, and Wednesday, January 1, exceeding the previous peak established in 2019.

AAA predicts an additional 3 million travelers this holiday season compared to the previous year.

“This year, with Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, we’re anticipating record-breaking travel numbers the weekend before and after the holiday,” AAA Travel Vice President Stacey Barber said in a statement.