The week of Jan 30th will see near-average conditions nearly everywhere over the lower 48 except for southern CA and northern New England where it will be warmer than average. This is the first time this season the lower 48 have not been forecast to be generally warmer than average. A shift in the general circulation over the artic is probably responsible and February may see a return to more seasonable condtions for the US, with the odd snow storm or two along the eastern seaboard north of VA.

This week will be stormy particularly over the Pac NW, but generally mild over most of the lower 48 as much of the cold air is trapped near and north of the Canadian border. A strong storm over the central plains this morning will intensify and slowly move NE into Ontario thru the early part of the week bringing milder air to the eastern 1/3rd of the country. A series of storms will slam into the "wet" coast this week; some energy will cross the southern rockes and develop a heavy rain producer over Tx on Wednesday. On Friday a significant surge of cold air is poised to enter the northern Rockies. This surge will bring colder condtions to much of the country east of the Rockies thru next weekend.