‘Omega Block’ Jet Stream to Bring Dry Weather, Abnormal Highs To These Cities In The Central U.S.
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/07223139/2258536-150x150.jpegA rare weather pattern is taking hold this week, splitting the country into three distinct weather systems that will persist for days. Named for the shape of the Greek letter, the “omega block” pattern forms when a ridge of high pressure becomes trapped between two areas of low pressure. The resulting ridge disrupts the usual west-to-east flow of weather across the continental U.S., trapping weather systems in a region for days.
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This week, a strong ridge of high pressure has formed over the northern Plains, flanked by two low-pressure systems over the Ohio Valley and the West Coast. Cities outside of the omega formation will experience abnormally cool temperatures and heavy precipitation, while cities on the inside of the omega block are forecast to experience extreme temperature anomalies, with some Central Plains cities projected to have temperatures more than 15 degrees above historical normals. A closer look at the data reveals the cities that will be abnormally hot and dry this week.
To determine the cities where it will be abnormally warm this week, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed 72-hour temperature forecasts and historical station-level daily temperature readings from the NOAA. Cities were ranked based on the difference between the forecast average temperature for May 5-7 2025, and the average observed temperature for May 4-6 from 2006 to 2020. Gridded forecast data are from the National Digital Forecast Database, while historical temperature normals are from the Global Historical Climatology Network daily program of the National Centers for Environmental Information. Weather stations were matched to places using nearest neighbor analysis and were limited to cities within 50 miles of the city centroid. Only cities with at least 25,000 residents were considered.
25. Austin, MN
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 59.7°F (+7.0°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 52.7°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 26,156
24. Lancaster, PA
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 67.2°F (+7.2°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 60.0°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 57,970
23. Wilmington, DE
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 66.6°F (+7.3°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 59.3°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 71,034
22. Sioux City, IA
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 62.0°F (+7.3°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 54.7°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 85,469
21. Owatonna, MN
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 60.3°F (+7.5°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 52.9°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 26,400
20. Bethlehem, PA
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 65.1°F (+7.7°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 57.4°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 76,555
19. Oakton, VA
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 68.5°F (+8.1°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 60.4°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 36,529
18. Sioux Falls, SD
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 62.7°F (+8.3°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 54.4°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 193,401
17. Harrisburg, PA
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 66.8°F (+8.4°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 58.4°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 50,055
16. Williston, ND
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 58.5°F (+8.8°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 49.7°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 27,783
15. Rapid City, SD
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 59.1°F (+8.9°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 50.3°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 75,632
14. Eden Prairie, MN
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 64.5°F (+9.0°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 55.6°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 63,623
13. Dickinson, ND
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 58.3°F (+10.0°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 48.2°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 25,116
12. St. Paul, MN
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 64.5°F (+10.3°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 54.1°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 308,806
11. Chanhassen, MN
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 63.8°F (+10.4°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 53.3°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 25,868
10. Minot, ND
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 62.0°F (+10.6°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 51.4°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 48,038
9. Chaska, MN
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 63.4°F (+10.6°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 52.8°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 27,764
8. Minneapolis, MN
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 65.1°F (+11.0°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 54.2°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 426,877
7. St. Cloud, MN
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 63.1°F (+11.2°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 51.9°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 68,910
6. Elk River, MN
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 63.6°F (+11.2°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 52.4°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 25,936
5. Aberdeen, SD
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 62.2°F (+11.3°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 50.9°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 28,388
4. Bismarck, ND
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 61.0°F (+11.5°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 49.6°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 73,694
3. Grand Forks, ND
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 62.3°F (+11.7°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 50.5°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 58,935
2. Andover, MN
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 64.1°F (+12.0°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 52.2°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 32,639
1. Fargo, ND
- Forecast average, May 5-7: 63.0°F (+12.7°F above climate normal)
- Normal average, May 5-7: 50.3°F (2006-2020)
- Total population: 127,319
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