Extremely cold temperatures have been forecasted to engulf a large portion of the southern and eastern United States, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
A so-called early season storm is bringing heavy snowfall, strong winds, and large tidal waves in the Great Lakes and heavy rainfall in Maine. The system could also bring the season's first freeze for most parts of the South and East US.
The latest NWS weather forecast comes after a rollercoaster weather consisting of warm and cooler temperatures across the country in recent weeks.
In addition, the looming extreme cold weather took place since Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwestern Florida on September 28, killing over 100 people in the state and causing widespread destruction of property and disruption of daily lives.
As the North American nation made past mid-October, recent local media reports and weather forecasts suggest some regions of the US, including the Northeast, could experience November-like or late fall season weather.
While the country is heading towards the winter season, the occurrence of other weather hazards like severe storms, torrential rain, and fire weather are still possible.
Cold Weather Forecast
The NWS, through its Weather Prediction Center (WPC), issued a Short Range Forecast Discussion about the record-breaking cold at 3:36 a.m. EDT (local time) on Wednesday, October 19, and is valid until Friday, October 21. In the said weather outlook, the cold system is expected to impact the Southeast US until Thursday, October 20, when the Pacific Northwest warm air spreads into the Great Plains.
The WPC also mentioned the issuance of freeze warnings and frost advisories from parts of the southern-central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic, reportedly making it the main weather story since the short-term cold will impact the "southeastern quadrant" of the US. There is also a possibility of isolated showers and flooding in some areas during the cold weather event.
Frost and Freeze Alerts
Freeze alerts, freeze watches, or frost advisories are affecting over 100 million Americans over the mentioned US regions due to the extreme weather event. In particular, the cold air mass will span from eastern Colorado, to the Appalachians, and all the way down to the Gulf Coast, according to CNN Meteorologist Judson Jones.
Jones cites a statement from the WPC, saying that what was mentioned earlier that a lot of places will experience their first freeze of the season in the following nights, which can also impact crops and livestock.
The meteorologist and the US weather agency add the shift in weather will result in above-average temperatures in the Western US, while causing below-average temperatures for the Eastern US or in the eastern half the country.
New York Freeze
The season's coldest air has already struck the New York area, triggering freeze and frost alerts as well in some areas. Most of the tri-state was covered by freeze warnings or frost advisories since dawn on Wednesday, according to NBC New York.
The local media outlet reported temperatures in New York plunged to levels barely above the freezing mark since the coldest air of the season arrived. In addition, the chilling weather is expected to linger until Thursday.
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