Mass of Cool Air Will Send Temperatures Plummeting Across Southeast and Florida

Posted: October 15, 2023 9:50 am

The temperatures are going to be trimmed dramatically in the coming days across the Southeast and into Florida, potentially setting some record lows and delivering patches of light snow in the process. Here is what you can expect heading into the weekend for the Southeast and beyond.

Massive Storm System Over Northern U.S. Pushing Cool Air to the South

A mass of cool air is making its way to the Southeast just in time of the weekend. This cooler air is the result of the cross-country storm that has moved from the Northwest and into the Northeast over the past week. This same storm system is pushing cooler air to the southern U.S., triggering the significant change in the weather. In addition to the drop in the mercury, the shift will also bring the first chance of snow for the season to the higher terrains of the Appalachians.

An influx of tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico brought heavy rain and severe storms to the Southeast on Thursday. Florida experienced a rash of tornadoes and waterspouts as this system rolled across the peninsula. A cool front came in on the heels of the severe weather, bringing down the temperatures.

Another cold front is forecast to push across the nation’s heartland and into the Northeast this weekend. This stronger front is expected to dip to the south and bring cooler temperatures to the southern Plains and across the Gulf Coast. Some parts of the region saw the cooler readings take hold on Friday while other places will need to wait until the weekend to notice the difference.

Temperatures May Drop as Much as 20 Degrees

How much cooler will it get? The forecast is calling for a swing of up to 20 degrees in a period of just 24 – 48 hours. For instance, after hovering near the 90-degree mark on Friday, Houston will drop to about 80 degrees for a high on Saturday. By Sunday, these readings will land in the mid 70s during the peak afternoon heating hours.

The overnight lows will be even more of a departure from normal, falling into the 50s on both Saturday and Sunday night. Typical lows for this part of South Texas during the middle of October land in the low 60s. There is the chance that Houston may see the mercury plummet into the upper 40s for morning lows by the early part of the week.

Atlanta is another major metropolitan area that can expect to see significantly cooler weather. Highs will fall from the 70s to start the weekend to near 60 degrees on Sunday. Real feel readings will be even chillier thanks to breezy conditions. Overnight lows will dip into the 40s by the end of the weekend, marking the coolest readings in the city since last April.

Forecast for Florida

Floridians are likely to see the biggest departure in temperatures as the cold front pushes into the Sunshine State by the end of the weekend. The state has been experiencing unseasonable warmth lately, making the change brought by the cool front even more dramatic. This difference will be particularly stark in the southern half of the state and into the Florida Keys.

The bulk of Florida will enjoy seasonably warm weather on Saturday prior to the cold front’s arrival on Sunday. For instance, Miami is forecast to continue to see record-challenging heat with highs in the low 90s on Saturday.

This warmth will be replaced with readings that struggle to hit 80 degrees on Monday and Tuesday. The onset of breezy conditions and lower humidity levels will bring the real feel readings down even further.

Theme park goers in Orlando will likely welcome the break from the heat. After seeing temperatures in the high 80s on Saturday, Orlando will cool to readings in the upper 70s on Sunday. Those headed out to the parks at night will want to bring a jacket as the Magic City is forecast to see overnight lows in the 50s for several nights in a row beginning early in the week. It was April the last time that this part of Central Florida saw the temperatures fall this low.

Winds Forecast to Pick Up Across the Southeast

An uptick in wind speeds will accompany the cold front when it spreads across the Southeast. This breeze will bring real feel readings below the actual recorded temperatures, especially during times of clouds. The increase in winds will trigger rough seas along the Gulf Coast and coastal Atlantic. Large lakes located inland may also see these choppy conditions.

The presence of a stiff breeze will work to prevent frost from forming across the interior portions of the Southeast despite the low overnight temperatures. However, the cold air circulating high in the atmosphere could provide a fertile breeding ground for heavy rain and thunderstorms to develop.

This same cold air could produce snow in the higher terrains of the southern Appalachians. Any snow that falls in this region will likely happen on Sunday or Monday.

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