Millions face dramatic temperature drop as powerful cold front sweeps across the US
By the end of the weekend, most of the country, from Texas to New England, will experience its coldest air since the spring.
Mid-October heat wave to come to a screeching halt as a cold front arrives
After days of late-summer heat, a powerful cold front is impacting much of the central and eastern U.S. Some areas will see temperatures plummet by more than 40 degrees. By the weekend, much of the country, from Texas to New England, could experience its coldest air since spring.
THE TAKEAWAY
- A powerful cold front is sweeping across parts of the country.
- The cold front is expected to impact much of the central and eastern U.S.
- Some areas will see temperatures plummet by 40 degrees.
A powerful cold front is sweeping across parts of the U.S., bringing the late-season heat wave to a screeching halt.
FALL ALLERGIES OR A COLD? HERE’S HOW TO TELL WHAT’S MAKING YOU MISERABLE
Starting this weekend, the cold front is expected to impact much of the central and eastern U.S., causing temperatures to plummet by more than 40 degrees.
Hundreds of millions of residents will experience this dramatic contrast between this week’s peak afternoon heat and the post-front morning chill.
This comes as relentless mid-October heat gripped the country earlier in the week, leading to more than 270 temperature records to be broken or tied since Monday.
Autumn colors cover trees as people spend their time by walking outside during a cold front. (Islam Dogru/Anadolu Agency / Getty Images)
As the cold front approaches, it will push the heat eastward, shifting the warm air into the Southeast and Gulf Coast states.
By Friday, only a dozen or so record-high temperatures are expected to be confined to areas east of the Appalachians, including parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
A woman is bundled up as she shops for pumpkins during a October cold front. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle / Getty Images)
The biggest temperature drop will occur across the Northern and Central Plains into the Upper Midwest, where highs in the 80s could fall into the 40s and 50s.
Overnight lows may dip into the 20s and 30s across the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, bringing the season’s first widespread hard freeze to some areas.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FROST, A FREEZE AND A HARD FREEZE?
Farther south, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee will go from highs in the 90s to the upper 50s and 60s by Friday and Saturday.
Across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas, highs will fall into the 60s, with some areas dropping into the 40s by Sunday morning.
By the end of the weekend, most of the country, from Texas to New England, will experience its coldest air since the spring.