UPDATE: A powerful Arctic blast is descending on the U.S., plunging temperatures across the central, eastern, and southern regions. Over 100 million Americans are bracing for a significant drop in temperatures this weekend, with impacts expected to last into early next week.
This major cold front, originating from Canada, is set to bring widespread frost, freezes, and potentially the first substantial snowfall of the season for many states. Meteorologist Ryan Maue remarked, “The U.S. is skipping fall and going right to winter on the 10th of November.” This intense cold is predicted to shatter records dating back to the 1800s in several areas.
The cold outbreak is driven by a strong upper-level low moving southward, allowing frigid polar air to surge across the nation. Certain regions could see temperatures drop between 20 to 30 degrees below average. By Monday, some areas in the Southeast may experience temperatures as cold as Greenland, with meteorologist Ben Noll noting parts of the Southeast U.S. will be “about as cold as Nuuk, Greenland.”
By midweek, the freeze is forecast to affect a staggering 155 million people, prompting officials to advise residents to protect outdoor plumbing, un-winterized irrigation systems, and sensitive plants. This cold snap will mark the end of the growing season for many areas that have not yet faced a hard freeze.
The Midwest will be among the first regions to feel the chill, with daytime temperatures expected to plummet into the 30s and 40s. Wind chills may drop into the single digits on Sunday morning across states like Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and the Dakotas. The National Weather Service in Chicago is warning of an “early taste of winter,” which could lead to dangerous travel conditions with periods of lake-effect snow affecting southern Lake Michigan.
Residents in Michigan may witness the “first measurable snow of the winter season,” with areas around Mount Pleasant likely receiving an inch or more. In Ohio, light snow showers are predicted into Monday, with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis alerting residents to prepare for lows below 25°F and wind chills as low as 10-15°F.
While the northern states will bear the brunt of the cold, the Southeast will also feel significant effects, with temperatures potentially dropping 15 to 25 degrees below historical averages by Monday. In Atlanta, highs are expected to reach only the mid-40s, over 20 degrees below normal.
The Northeast will not escape unscathed, as forecasters anticipate colder air arriving early next week. In Mount Holly, New Jersey, the area experienced its coldest morning of the season on Friday. A frost advisory is also in effect for the Washington, D.C. metro area, with milder temperatures expected this weekend before the chill sets in.
As conditions develop, lake-effect snow is also likely in parts of the Northeast from Monday to Wednesday, with locally heavy snow bands anticipated in regions of Pennsylvania and New York.
Residents across the country are urged to stay informed and prepare for this unprecedented weather event as the Arctic chill sweeps through.
