Arctic Chill to Grip Midwest, South, and Northeast Bringing First Snow and Record-Low Temperatures

A Sudden Shift to Winter

The unseasonably warm autumn that stretched across much of the United States is about to end. A powerful surge of Arctic air is barreling south, set to deliver the sharpest cold of the season so far - and for some, the first snow.

By Friday night, the front will sweep into the Northern Plains and upper Midwest, followed by a broader push of cold air reaching as far south as Oklahoma, the Tennessee Valley, and the interior Northeast by Sunday. By Monday, the chill will stretch from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast, gripping nearly two-thirds of the nation in a sudden early taste of winter.

Skies will clear. Winds will cut deep. The air will feel raw.

How Cold Will It Get?

This will not be a gentle cool-down. Across the Midwest, South, and East, temperatures will tumble to their lowest levels since spring.

By the weekend, highs will stall in the 30s across the Northern Plains and western Great Lakes. On Monday, that cold will press into the southern Appalachians, while highs from the Northeast’s I-95 corridor to Atlanta, GA, will hover in the 40s.

Along the coastal Carolinas, even Charleston, SC, will struggle to climb out of the upper 40s on Tuesday, setting up potential record lows for daily highs. Average highs this time of year there are in the low 70s.

The deeper the front pushes, the more dramatic the plunge. Morning lows will sink into the 20s across the Deep South, and 30s across northern Florida. By Tuesday morning, frost and freeze conditions may reach all the way to the northern Gulf Coast.

And the wind will make it worse. Behind the front, strong northwesterly gusts will drive wind chills into the teens and 20s across the Midwest, parts of the Northeast, and even pockets of the South.

Preparing for the Cold

The abrupt change will catch many off guard after weeks of lingering warmth. Meteorologists are urging residents to get ready now.

• Pull out winter coats, hats, and gloves - you will need them sooner than expected.
• Dress children warmly for early-morning commutes or outdoor activities.
• Football fans heading to games in Chicago, IL, or Green Bay, WI, should prepare for freezing conditions in the stands.
• Finish yard work before the weekend to avoid raking leaves in icy wind.
• Turn off outdoor faucets and drain hoses to prevent freezing pipes.

The cold air will arrive quickly, and by the time many realize it, the frost will already be on the ground.

First Snowfall of the Season

For millions in the north, the cold front will not just bring freezing air - it will bring the season’s first snow.

Wet, slushy flakes could begin falling as early as Friday night across the Northern Plains, spreading east through the Great Lakes over the weekend. By Sunday, lake-effect snow bands are expected to develop downwind of the lakes, coating parts of Michigan, northern Indiana, northern Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, and western and central New York.

Even farther south, the Appalachians of West Virginia could see a dusting, while several inches are possible in the Adirondacks of upstate New York and the higher elevations of northern New England.

Most daytime roads will stay wet, but as temperatures dip at night, slick spots could form on untreated surfaces. Cars parked overnight may carry the first thin crust of winter by morning.

A Brief Visit from Winter

The blast will not last forever. Milder air is expected to return to the nation’s heartland by the middle of next week, restoring a more typical November feel.

The Northeast, though, may hold onto the chill a bit longer, as another reinforcing cold front sweeps in from Canada.

For much of the country, this weekend’s plunge will serve as the first reminder - winter is no longer waiting at the door. It is stepping inside.