The next pattern shift as expected, albeit brief, has already occurred and will be around through the middle of this upcoming week. The mean trough that had been in place out in the West with the pattern we just exited has lifted, and will be more Ontatio/Quabec/Northern Great Lakes/Northeast based for this short period of time. This is leading to a short period of near A temps (Cooler north/mild south) and less active conditions. The biggest change from my previous post regarding this short period is, ENS guidance had backed off on how cold it would be. Beyond that, there will be yet another significant pattern shift, which will occur in two stages. The first stage appears to be brief once again, occurring from the middle of this upcoming week and continuing through later the first weekend of March or perhaps early into the first full week of March. This pattern will allow for a bigger push of mild temps and a more active storm pattern to return (Rainer potential high). This first stage of the pattern shift will be possible in part due to a +AO/+NAO/+EPO/+PNA/+WPO combo spike, with this ridge then collapsing eastward over the CONUS. The second stage of the main pattern shift from above appears as though it will be longer lasting. We will shift into a +AO/+NAO/-EPO/-WPO/-PNA pattern. This pattern will feature a mean trough that will sit in the middle of the country, leading to the return to a much more active storm pattern once again. Regarding temps, there will be the potential for cool/cold shots given ENS trough position and teleconnections...Odds are it might end up being a cold NW/mild SE situation across the sub-forum, which would obviously introduce the opportunity for rainers and snows depending on location. Should be a pattern that favors severe weather opportunities in the Dixie/SE/TNV as well.