What is Going on with this Weather Pattern?

So far this month, much of the Deep South and Middle Atlantic states have been hit with snowstorms and persistent cold.

Average temperatures since Feb. 1 have been a whopping 5 to 10 degrees below normal! So what's going on?


An unusually strong and persistent area of high pressure over northern Canada has been forcing much of the cold air well south into the southeastern United States, leaving much of central and northeastern Canada relatively mild with a lack of snowfall.


It appears that this blocking pattern could persist through much of the rest of this month, keeping the eastern half of the nation in the deep freeze.


Story by AccuWeather.com senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.