Long-Term Forecast For Rest Of Winter In New Jersey Released

Brutal cold started off the month, but in recent days milder temperatures have brought about a January thaw. So what does the rest of the winter have in store? Will the bitter Arctic air return? Or will we enjoy milder weather for the duration of the season?

The Weather Channel has some new insight.

In a recent long-term forecast update, meteorologists from the Weather Channel put their heads together to come up with a prediction for the rest of winter. The news isn't great, unless you're looking for another blast of really cold weather.

Much of the northern tier of the United States should expect colder-than-average temperatures to end winter and begin spring, the Weather Channel says.

"We expect a significant pattern shift toward colder temperatures in the eastern U.S. by mid-February," Chief Meteorologist Todd Crawford said in a news release. This is due to changes in the upper levels of the atmosphere, Crawford said. Temperatures in New Jersey will be at or slightly below average, the Weather Channel predicts.

But the cold air isn't expected in all of the country. La Niña conditions will linger through February, which typically results in a ridge of high pressure near the Southeast, limiting the cold in the region, Crawford said.

You can read the full long-term winter forecast here.

In the meantime, here's the forecast for the week ahead:

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind around 6 mph.

Tonight: A chance of drizzle or light rain, mainly after 4am. Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 38. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Monday: A chance of rain or drizzle before 10am, then a chance of drizzle with a slight chance of rain between 10am and 4pm. Patchy fog before 4pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 47. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 4am. Cloudy, with a low around 42. South wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday: Rain, mainly before 1pm, then a chance of showers after 1pm. High near 55. South wind around 16 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 36.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 39.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.

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