A brutal Arctic blast is poised to grip a vast stretch of the United States, promising a November chill unlike anything seen in recent memory. Temperatures are forecast to plummet, reaching levels typically reserved for the heart of winter, and extending the deep freeze as far south as Florida.
Satellite imagery reveals a stark picture: two powerful low-pressure systems swirling over the Atlantic and Pacific, while a massive dome of frigid air builds over Canada. This icy force will surge southward by Friday, driven by a classic weather pattern that will lock warm air in the West and unleash a wave of freezing temperatures across the East.
The first signs of this dramatic shift will arrive Friday night as a strong high-pressure system establishes itself over western Canada. This will trigger a northerly flow, sending a surge of cold air into the Midwest and Great Lakes. By Saturday, the change will be undeniable, demanding the retrieval of winter gear as a developing frontal system pushes eastward.
By Sunday, the heartland will be in the grip of the cold. From the Dakotas to Tennessee, temperatures will crash 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit in a single day. Cities like Joplin, Missouri, and Atlanta will experience conditions more akin to December, while the upper Midwest and Great Lakes brace for daytime highs well below freezing.
The Great Lakes region is bracing for significant snowfall. Cold, dry air sweeping over the relatively warmer lake waters will generate heavy lake-effect snow, potentially burying some areas under two feet by Tuesday morning. Chicago could face intense snow squalls Sunday, with meteorologists warning of blizzard-like conditions and even the rare phenomenon of ‘thundersnow.’
Monday will mark the peak of the cold wave, as the Arctic air mass reaches full strength. A powerful high-pressure system over Canada will drive freezing winds deep into the southern states. The Southeast will bear the brunt, with Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas facing temperatures 25 to 35 degrees below normal – a historic drop for mid-November.
Commuters and early risers should prepare for punishing morning lows. Sunday could see readings in the teens across the Upper Midwest and the Dakotas, with much of the central US dipping into the 20s. Freezing conditions will extend into North Texas, Louisiana, and central Alabama. By Monday, the cold will stretch from the Midwest through the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and even into northern Florida, where temperatures could fall into the low 30s.
The temperature contrast across the country will be striking. While the Southeast freezes, the West will bask in unseasonable warmth. This extreme split will create a dramatic weather map, with deep blue cold anomalies dominating the East and fiery reds across the West – a classic ‘dipole’ pattern in full effect.
As winds subside late Monday, the cold will settle even more deeply. Clear skies overnight will allow heat to escape, sending temperatures plummeting, especially in Florida. The state will feel the full force of the Arctic air before dawn on Tuesday, with widespread frost and ice expected in areas unaccustomed to such conditions.
By midweek, the cold will finally begin to ease, but not before leaving its mark. The early-season freeze will have touched nearly every corner of the eastern United States, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf. With days of sub-freezing temperatures and heavy lake-effect snow, the message is clear: winter has arrived, and it means business.
