An exceptionally mild winter 2022-23 for New England but a brief period of arctic air visits later next week possibly for about 5 days. During that time Boston maximum temperatures could stay below freezing for up to 5 days including at least one night in the single digits.

The U.S. outlook to close January and through the first third of February is trending less cold. The primary reason is an increased westerly component aloft in the medium-range forecast easing the cross-polar flow of arctic air and increasing the milder Pacific influence on the U.S. thermal pattern. As a result, heating degree days forecasts are trending lower.

An impressive upper-level low-pressure trough rolls across Southern Europe the next week to 10 days delivering locally cold weather to Southwest Europe to France and gradually across much of Southern Europe. The upper trough combines with still unusually warm Mediterranean Sea SSTA to produce excessive rains across this region into early February extending to Southeast Europe.

Over the next 2-3 weeks a gradual expansion of snow cover for much of the northern half of the U.S. is expected. Meanwhile, stratospheric warming may shift from the Eurasian side of the North Pole to North America spawning arctic air. Forecast confidence is LOW for that part of the forecast. However, expanding snow cover will invite a cold February ahead.