More Than 30 States Brace for the Season’s First Real Blast of Cold
Over 200 million Americans are going to be reaching for their coats by the weekend as the coldest air of the season spreads across much of the U.S. Here is a look at which states are going to experience the winter blast, as well as just how low the temperatures are going to fall.
Chill in the Air for Over 200 Million Americans
Roughly 30 states will experience the coldest temperatures of the season thus far as a large zone of high pressure anchored over Canada sends the cold air into all areas of the U.S. located east of the Rocky Mountains. The arrival of this cold air will inevitably raise the risk of the first frost of the season for several cities.
While Wednesday was a mild day for most of the eastern half of the country, that began to change on Thursday when the air started to make its way down from Canada. For example, the number of Americans experiencing below-average temperatures surged from just 3 million on Wednesday to over 90 million by Thursday. That number will increase even more on Friday, with approximately 230 million Americans forecast to be dealing with temperatures below what is typical in the middle of November.
The early morning hours on Saturday and Sunday will bring the coldest temperatures of this stretch. Overnight lows will settle in the 30s or lower for much of the eastern U.S. While these temperatures are not predicted to break any records, the pattern will bring the first freeze of the season to many communities. The frigid temperatures will feel like quite a shock to a part of the country that has enjoyed an unseasonably warm fall at the hands of strong El Niño conditions.
The latest forecast models signal that frost and freezing conditions will be the story for more than 30 states. Looking at a few regions, the central Plains will see lows fall into the mid to upper 20s after the sun goes down on Friday and Saturday. Major urban areas such as Omaha and Kansas City are bracing for the first widespread hard freeze of the year, bringing an end to the growing season.
It will be even colder to the north in the Great Lakes. Not only will overnight lows slide into the teens, but daytime highs this weekend will struggle to climb out of the low 40s. It will be slightly warmer in urban areas near the shoreline. Chicago is forecast to see overnight lows bottom out at the freezing mark. The Windy City will also see the chance of snow on Friday morning.
Moving into the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic, the first freeze is expected to hit this slice of the country on Saturday and Sunday. Residents in cities such as Louisville and Indianapolis should prepare for freezing temperatures on Saturday and Sunday morning.
Cold Temperatures Will Extend as Far as Florida
The mass of cold air will dip as far as the Gulf Coast and Florida. High pressure building over the southeastern U.S. will whip up the northerly winds, making the real feel readings even chillier. Actual temperatures are forecast to hover 10 to 15 degrees below the historical average for much of the Southeast.
Although the freezing temperatures are expected to remain north of Florida, it will still feel noticeably chilly in the Sunshine State. Highs will max out in the 60s for most of the peninsula. The mercury will slide into the upper 30s and low 40s overnight throughout much of the panhandle region. Patchy frost is also a possibility in areas located away from the water.
It will be slightly warmer in Central Florida; however, theme park visitors in Orlando will want to pack a jacket for the morning hours. Lows that drop into the mid to upper 40s will take some time to rebound. Overnight lows will slip into the high 50s across South Florida.
Looking ahead, temperatures will begin to creep up across the central U.S. by early next week. The recovery will be slower for the eastern edge of the country.
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