BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Temperatures are starting to rise after a week of life-threatening cold across the Midwest and Northeast.
Dickinson, North Dakota, surpassed the freezing mark of 32 degrees above zero (1 Celsius) midmorning Friday. The city was more than 50 degrees warmer than its recent low of minus 17 (negative 27 Celsius) Tuesday.
National Weather Service meteorologist Adam Jones says the abrupt change in weather is due to a shift in the prevailing winds. Instead of northerly winds bringing down frigid arctic air, westerly winds are ushering in milder Pacific air. He says the warmup will continue moving east and make it to the Great Lakes and the Northeast this weekend.
Experts say the rapid thaw is unprecedented and could create problems of its own - bursting pipes, flooding rivers and crumbling roads.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.