‘Blank’ North American weather pattern is a ‘cool curiosity’

After a few weeks of Pacific frontal systems in the west, cool and stormy weather back east and constant rain in the U.S. southeast, the North American continent is about to get a temporary winter reprieve.

Friday is shaping up to be a ‘blank’ winter weather day from coast to coast in North America, meaning the entire continent is without any storm activity for one February day.

Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist says a ridge of high pressure centred around the State of Kentucky is making for a day of ‘quiet’ weather conditions on Friday.

“Checking the forecast for the coast, there’s a ridge of high pressure overtop until the weekend. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia are all forecast to be pretty quiet on Friday as well, weather-wise,” Lundquist says.

The huge high pressure ridge extends from Kentucky all the way back to British Columbia, pushing the storm track far to the north over the next few days.

“It might be stormy in the Yukon and part of northern Ontario and Quebec, but at least not many people live there. The rest of the continent should be pretty quiet,” he says.

Northern California could also see a few showers from an offshore disturbance, he says.

Calling it a coincidence, Lundquist says the dry, continent-wide weather pattern happens from time to time.

“It’s a cool curiosity, but nothing extraordinary,” Lundquist says.

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