Spring Chill for Much of the U.S.

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We are one week into  the new spring season and winter-like conditions are lingering across much of the United States.

With the polar jet stream plunging down from Canada, cold air continues to blast a large portion of this country.  Unseasonably cool temperatures have even been reported as far south as Florida.  These widespread chilly conditions, in turn, are supporting an extensive national snow cover.  According to NOAA, 48.7% of the continental U.S. is currently under a blanket of snow.  That is the largest area of coverage – for this point in the season – in ten years.

Snow_Cover 3.25.13

National Snow Cover on 3-25-2013.

Image Credit: NOAA