Although some relaxation in the winter chill is on the way for the Southland, I see no permanent wholesale reversal in the long cold winter pattern prevalent for much of the United States anytime soon. And certainly not before late February and probably not until sometime in March at the earliest.
Note the brief appearance of a semi-zonal (west-east) jet stream flow across the lower half of America-- or at least less amplified-- does not last. In the longer range the stormy active pattern reloads to some extent according to the European model and most others. The NAEFS sure shows the high probability of below-normal temps in the medium range. The stratospheric warming above the North Pole which began in late January signaled to us the negative AO would return and strengthen. This supports more cold air and based on past SSW events, the pattern we've been in should last another 2 weeks.
See the maps and slide show.
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