Pattern change: Much-needed return to winter for the West ahead, while snow-weary East to see warmup

Pattern change: Much-needed return to winter for the West ahead, while snow-weary East to see warmup

A major change in the weather pattern over North America is ahead. While much of the eastern U.S. has been frozen by rounds of Arctic air and snow, the West has remained unseasonably warm, which has left many mountain ranges in a snow drought. That is expected to change by mid-month, as a shift in the jet stream will open the door for numerous storms to bring snow and rain to the West Coast and Rockies. Additionally, this shift in the jet stream will shield the East from the worst of the polar vortex, which will retreat farther north than earlier projections.