Advancing Cold Front to Send Temperatures Plunging in Much of Central US

Posted: September 17, 2021 10:40 pm

Residents of the Rockies and Plains states need to enjoy the warm weather while they have it this weekend. A cold front will push into the region at the end of the weekend and into early next week. This change of weather will feel even more noticeable after the long stretch of unseasonably high temperatures over the last week.

Warmer Temperatures to Highlight the Weekend

While some areas of the Rockies and Midwest were enjoying a late summer surge of temperatures in the 90s, this is all about to come to an end. The changing conditions will arrive right on cue as fall begins next Wednesday.

Throughout the month of September, temperatures have been hovering about four to six degrees above average in many places in the central US. In addition to the Rockies and Plains states, the northern Plains and Upper Midwest have also seen temperatures above average for September.

A few high-temperature records may be challenged this weekend in places such as Bismarck, North Dakota and stretching into northern Minnesota. For example, the forecast high in Bismarck for Sunday is 89 degrees. The record is 94 degrees set in 1972 with the normal temperatures for this date in history falling at 72 degrees.

Cold Front to Send Temperatures Downward

It will not take long for the mercury to plummet as a cold front moves into the central Rockies and the Plains states late Sunday and early Monday. However, in advance of this front, this region may be dealing with gusty thunderstorms to signal its arrival.

As the front pushes through, it will bring a mass of significantly cooler air. The cold temperatures combined with the chance of precipitation may bring the first snowfall to the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains.

The dramatic change in temperature will be noticeable to everyone. For example, after enjoying a high in the low 80s on Sunday, some parts of Wyoming will land in the 50s on Monday.

It will be the same story in the Mile High City. The Denver area is expected to hit readings in the upper 80s over the weekend. By the time Monday rolls around, the highs will struggle to hit 70 degrees.

As the Week Continues

The front and its swath of cold air will march to the east on Tuesday, bringing the dramatically different weather pattern to the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, and beyond. The Twin Cities will bask in the late summer warmth with temperatures in the mid-80s on Monday. However, the high on Tuesday is only forecast to be about 65 degrees.

Increasing clouds and a steadier breeze will make the actual real feel temperature even lower. Most of this area of the country will see temperatures that are well below normal for the start of fall as the cold front advances.

The one thing that is certain is that the arrival of fall will definitely feel as if there has been a change in the season for much of the central US. While the temperatures will start to rebound by the end of the week, the end of summer is literally and figuratively on the horizon.

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