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At a Glance Colder-than-average conditions are expected to persist into spring in parts of the northern U.S.

Portions of the southern U.S. can expect warmer-than-average temperatures into spring.

The recent cold in the central and eastern U.S. has many wondering if this pattern will continue to close winter.

According to the latest outlook from The Weather Company, an IBM Business, much of the northern tier of the U.S. will see colder-than-average temperatures to end winter and begin spring, while portions of the southern U.S. can expect warmer-than-average conditions.

At times, record cold has impacted the central and eastern U.S. since December. These frigid temperatures have been due to the jet stream pattern's upper-level ridge of high pressure over the western U.S. and a southward dip, or trough, over the eastern U.S. This trough has allowed rounds of arctic cold to infiltrate portions of the U.S. at times this winter.

(MORE: Most of U.S. Has Passed Coldest Time of Year )

February Temperature Outlook

A pattern change is now expected to bring colder temperatures to the West and warmer conditions to the central and eastern U.S. for the end of January and into the beginning of February.

However, there are indications that another shift in the pattern will occur around mid-February. This could result in colder temperatures returning to parts of the East.

<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com/util/image/w/wsi_feb_0118.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com/util/image/w/wsi_feb_0118.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com/util/image/w/wsi_feb_0118.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > February temperature outlook from The Weather Company, an IBM Business.

Dr. Todd Crawford , chief meteorologist with The Weather Company, stated that "we expect a significant pattern shift toward colder temperatures in the eastern U.S. by mid-February" due to changes in the upper levels of the atmosphere.

The good news for those in the South that are tired of the cold: La Niña conditions are expected to still be in place through February, which typically results in a ridge of high pressure near the Southeast, limiting the cold in the region, Crawford noted.

(MAPS: Weekly Planner and 30- and 90-Day Outlooks )

The forecast map above reflects this thinking, with temperatures near to slightly below average from the Northeast westward into parts of the Northwest. The greatest below-average temperatures are expected to be in the north-central U.S. during February.

Meanwhile, areas from Oregon and northern California into the Southeast can expect temperatures to be near to slightly above average. Temperatures will be the highest above average from the Southwest into southern Texas and parts of central and southern Florida.

Spring Outlook

Heading into spring, areas of the central U.S. and Northwest may see the biggest temperature changes.

In March, warmer-than-average temperatures are expected from Florida along the northern Gulf Coast and into New Mexico and Colorado, with temperatures near to slightly above average extending from the Southeast into much of the central Plains and into southeastern Montana. Temperatures well above average are possible from southern Texas into coastal Louisiana.

(MAPS: Average Monthly High and Low Temperatures )

Much-colder-than-average temperatures, however, are anticipated in the Northwest in March, with colder-than-average temperatures also expected from Minnesota into the eastern Great Lakes and far northern New England. Near- to slightly colder-than-average temperatures are likely for much of the West, as well as the Midwest and Northeast.

<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com/util/image/w/wsi_mar_0118.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com/util/image/w/wsi_mar_0118.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com/util/image/w/wsi_mar_0118.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > March temperature outlook from The Weather Company, an IBM Business.

La Niña is one of the main factors contributing to this early spring forecast.

Current expectations are that La Niña conditions will begin to transition to ENSO-neutral – neither La Niña or El Niño – this spring. The latest outlook from NOAA indicates an 85- to 95-percent chance that La Niña will last through winter and transition to ENSO-neutral during the spring.

(MORE: Drought Has Rapidly Expanded Across the Southern U.S.; Spring Outlook Is Worrisome )

This would indicate that La Niña conditions may still play an important role in weather patterns into at least early spring, although the greatest impacts are typically experienced in the U.S. during the winter months.

"The colder-than-normal equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures associated with La Niña should wane this spring, but the atmospheric tropical forcing will likely linger, resulting in another cold/wet spring across the northern U.S. and an early start to cooling season across the southern U.S," said Crawford.

<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com/util/image/w/wsi_marmay_0118.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com/util/image/w/wsi_marmay_0118.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com/util/image/w/wsi_marmay_0118.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > Spring temperature outlook from The Weather Company, an IBM Business.

The outlook for the March-through-May period also reflects this expectation. Temperatures farthest above average will be found in the south-central U.S. and along the Gulf Coast into Florida, while the coldest temperatures, compared to average, are expected in the Pacific Northwest.