Well-documented is the cold influence on North America and Eurasia climate by an ongoing intense negative arctic oscillation (-AO). Additionally, -AO has inspired a vigorous Southern Europe storm track most recently associated with Winter Storm “Kristin” and effects on Portugal and Spain. -AO continues well into February maintaining the energetic Southern Europe storm track.

The MJO was the catalyst to the aerial coverage and intensity of the January 24-25 weekend storm. The event also caused the East Pacific equatorial region to warm. Effective this week, oceanic La Nina has ended as all Nino SSTA regions have shifted to neutral phase.

The latest snowfall forecast indicates 18-24 inches of snow from Albany to Boston today and Monday. 10-18 inches of snow extends from Ohio across Pennsylvania. Amounts are cut back Maryland and southward due to sleet and freezing rain. The core of major ice accretion stretches from Eastern Louisiana to Kentucky, the Southern Appalachians, and Raleigh to Richmond.

Winter Storm Warnings have reached the Atlantic Coast and extend westward across Texas and the Southern Great Plains. Ice Storm Warnings remain in effect from East Texas to Tennessee and Northern Georgia across the western half of South Carolina and Southwestern North Carolina.