First Widespread Frost and Freeze of the Season Headed for the Southeast

Residents of the Southeast should brace themselves for the first widespread frost and freeze of the season. The same weather pattern that will bring the first snow of the year to the Northeast by the end of the week will also send frigid air as far as the southern U.S. Read on for the details of this cold weather pattern.

Frost and Freeze Conditions Headed to the Southeast

Portions of the Southeast are likely to see the first killing frost or hard freeze of the season by the weekend. In addition to the frost and freeze concerns, some areas of the southern Appalachians may also see the first bit of accumulating snow.

The chilly air will originate in Canada and take a dive into the northern U.S. beginning on Thursday. This mass of colder air will then migrate farther south, translating to the lowest temperatures of the season for most states in the eastern third of the country.

Gardeners will want to prepare for damage to summer flowers and vegetable plants. The mercury is forecast to slide into the low to mid 30s for a zone from northeastern Texas and down into the Florida Panhandle. The expectation of freezing temperatures will stretch to the east, reaching the Interstate 95 corridor as far south as the Carolinas.

Some regions could see temperatures land in the 20s for a brief period in the overnight hours. This will inevitably mark the end of the growing season for millions of Americans.

This is a good time to bring potted plants and small pots of garden vegetables into the garage for protection against the elements. Plastic tarps or blankets will not likely provide enough protection from this degree of cold.

Timing of the Chill

The focus of the chill will be anchored over the lower portion of the Mississippi Valley and across the Tennessee Valley from Friday night and into Saturday morning. By Saturday night, the cold will shift to the east and set up over the Appalachians and the Piedmont communities of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

While the cold blast may feel jarring, meteorologists note that the arrival of the cold is slightly later than the historical average. An unseasonably warm weather pattern in October and through the first week of November kept temperatures well above normal for most areas of the eastern U.S.

Temperatures fell into the mid 40s across the Atlanta metro area last weekend. The Peach City is forecast to see readings dip about 10 degrees lower this weekend, translating to temperatures in the mid 30s in urban Atlanta. The outlying areas of the city will see temperatures settle near the freezing mark.

Moving deep to the south, the college town of Gainesville, Florida, saw overnight temperatures slip to near 50 degrees last week. That will seem mild in comparison when temperatures drop into the upper 30s early Sunday morning. Outlying areas may see a small frost accumulation by the time the weekend wraps up.

While it will not be quite as cold in Orlando, theme park visitors will want to bring along a jacket for those evening parades and fireworks shows. The forecast for this part of Central Florida is calling for highs to top out in the mid 60s on Saturday. These readings will fall into the upper 40s when the sun goes down on the Magic City.

It will also be quite frigid across the Carolinas. Temperatures took a dive into the upper 30s in Raleigh, North Carolina, during last weekend's cold snap. This weekend will be noticeably colder, with the mercury coming within a few degrees of freezing in Raleigh by the time the sun comes up on Sunday.

Temperatures will fall the fastest overnight in areas with clear skies and light winds. Conversely, a storm system coming in from South Texas and the Gulf this weekend could deposit a scattering of clouds over portions of the Southeast. This would help to insulate these specific areas, potentially pushing the forecast overnight lows slightly higher.

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