Cooler Temperatures to Accompany Moisture in Eastern Half of U.S.

Posted: October 9, 2023 7:42 am

A rush of cooler temperatures is going to trail behind this current round of moisture for the central and eastern U.S. The change in the weather will translate to the first frost of the season for some areas with the chance of wet snow creeping into the higher elevations.

Cold Front Brings in Cooler Temperature Readings and Increase in Moisture

A powerful cold front will be the culprit for the chilly conditions this weekend. The drop in the mercury will move from west to east over the coming days, providing a stark contrast to the unseasonable warmth from last weekend. Some locations will see the temperatures fall up to 60 degrees when compared to highs just a few days ago.

You will want to pack a jacket and a warm drink if you are headed out for outdoor activities this weekend. Fans of college football, the National Football League, and Major League Baseball should check their local forecast and dress appropriately. A number of games this weekend could be impacted by the weather in the form of chilly temperatures, rain showers, and gusty winds.

It was a warm start to October for much of the Midwest and Northeast thanks to a persistent ridge of high pressure that had set up over the northern U.S. Temperatures hovered 10 to 20 degrees above normal for the end of September and early October. For example, Minneapolis set a new daily record high of 92 degrees on Sunday before dropping back into the 60s by the middle of the week. The mercury will fall even further over the weekend, struggling to get out of the 50s for the next several days.

It will take longer for the dramatically cooler temperatures to hit the East Coast. The major metropolitan areas lining the Interstate 95 corridor will start to see the biggest change on Saturday and Sunday. New York City will fall from the low 70s on Saturday to the low 60s on Sunday. These readings are in juxtaposition to the widespread 80s that highlighted the past week in this part of the nation.

South Will Also Experience Cooler Weather

The rash of cool temperatures will infiltrate to the south, bringing more fall-like conditions to the Southeast and south-central U.S. You can expect temperatures to fall from the 80s and 90s into the 60s and 70s for daily highs in cities such as Charlotte, Atlanta, and Nashville. Humidity levels will also begin to tumble in the southern portion of the country, making it feel even more comfortable.

The cooler days will pair with chilly nights to create the chance of the first frost of the fall season for many parts of the northern U.S. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a number of frost and freeze watches, advisories, and warnings for numerous locations in the northern and central Plains.

It is likely that more warnings and watches will be issued as the cold air moves to the east. For instance, locations in the northern Ohio Valley, interior Michigan, and upstate New York could see frost forming overnight by the middle of the week.

Overnight lows will also trend on the cooler side in areas to the south. Cities that may come close to breaking record low readings include Charleston and Tallahassee. Lows are forecast to drop into the 40s after the sun goes down Sunday, delivering the coldest weather to this region since last spring.

Surge of Moisture in the Forecast

In addition to the much cooler temperatures, a good portion of the eastern U.S. will also be dodging rain showers and the potential of snow this weekend and into the early parts of next week. Moisture is predicted to move along with the cold front. This non-tropical moisture will likely merge with the rain created by the former Tropical Storm Philippe to create a messy weekend for the Northeast and beyond.

Areas downwind of the Great Lakes should be prepared for lake-effect rain showers and waterspouts. The arrival of the cooler weather will also set the stage for the potential of graupel mixing with the lake-effect rain. This type of precipitation will increase the risk of slick roads.

There is also the possibility of wet snow in the higher elevations of the Adirondacks across upstate New York. This snow is only expected to stick to grassy surfaces and elevated roadways.

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