- - When will temperatures get warmer? Here's when the cold snap will end

Doyle Rice, USA TODAY December 16, 2025 at 1:20 AM

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Cold enough for you?

The bitter cold that overspread the central and eastern United States this past weekend will be relatively short-lived, forecasters said.

"A large sector of the nation will continue to experience a cold blast that has been chilling residents to their bones, but there is an end in sight," said AccuWeather meteorologist Alyssa Glenny in a Dec, 15 online forecast.

Monday, Dec. 15 will be the final day of this intense cold "polar vortex" outbreak before a return to average temperatures occurs on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Then, much milder air will take over, potentially eroding the snow cover in the week leading up to Christmas. In fact, a map released by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center shows warmer-than-average temperatures overspreading much of the Lower 48 states by next weekend.

1 / 64NFL weather games: Football played in adverse conditions ❄️🌧️Dec. 7, 2025: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) communicates between plays against the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium. Despite a heavy snowfall, the Bills and Bengals played a high-scoring game, which was won by Buffalo, 39-34.Cold not as intense

As the upcoming week progresses, the cold will not be as intense throughout the Plains, Great Lakes and Northeast, AccuWeather forecasters said.

"The bitterly cold blast of Arctic air will only last an additional 36 to 48 hours in many places," said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski. "In Detroit, following the projected afternoon highs not far from 20 degrees Monday, highs will rise to near 40 by Wednesday and even middle and upper 40s by Thursday," he said.

Warmer than normal temperatures (in red and orange) are forecast across the vast majority of the U.S. by this coming weekend.Forecast predicts December thaw

The National Weather Service said that a weather system over the western U.S. will allow temperatures to reach 15 degrees to 25 degrees above seasonal averages, spreading east across much of the lower 48 for midweek and beyond, "creating a December thaw."

Several temperature records may be tied or broken across the West due to the unusually warm conditions, the weather service said.

By Friday, Dec. 19, highs in the 60s should expand into western Nebraska and South Dakota, and by Saturday, Dec. 20, temperatures in much of Texas should reach the upper 70s to low 80s, according to the weather service.

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Whither the polar vortex?

The polar vortex, the source of this cold snap, will be on holiday for the next couple of weeks, according to Weather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue.

"The main 'polar vortex' retracts into Canada and only minor excursions or lobes will be affecting the Lower 48 for the coming 10-14 days," he said in an email to USA TODAY.

"However, even with the polar vortex locked up (mostly) there is still opportunity for brief mini-Arctic blasts for a day or two as part of these powerful storm systems," Maue said.

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Given the relatively warmer pattern ahead, the chances for accumulating snow will be limited for some, or at least accumulating snow that lingers for an extended period of time, AccuWeather said.

"With the warmup later in the week, it could dash the hopes for many of a white Christmas as current snow cover on the ground in parts of the Midwest away from the Great Lakes may melt and not survive to Christmas Day," said Pydynowski.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When will it warm up? Here's when the cold snap will end

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