The week after next features a return to significant warmth in the east, generally east of the Sierra except western TX, New Mexico and AZ where monsoon moisture will keep temperatures suppressed from near average to slightly below. The west coast returns to average to below average temperatures as has been the usual case this year. I suspect the forecast rebound of temperatures in the east is influenced by continuing serious drought over much of the lower 48.

This week provides a break for much of the NE and Midwest as a trough digs over the eastern half of the country in response to a building ridge over the Great Basin. Some cooler air has pushed through the Midwest from southern Kansas through southern Illinois out to the Virginia eastern seaboard in the form of a front and this front will stall for a few days more-or-less on that line. Within a hundred miles to the north, and to the south of the front, the next few days will bring frequent thunderstorms with strong wind gusts and locally heavy rainfall. The front will begin to lift to the north after the first half of the week, returning above average temperatures to most of the East, except for New England, by Friday. Most of the frontal precipitation this week will miss the corn producing areas of the Midwest. This weeks NG storage data to be reported on Thursday will be significantly below average again, as will data reported on Thursday the 19th.