Rockies, Midwest, and Plains Under Gun for Bitterly Cold Temperatures

Posted: November 18, 2022 3:25 pm

Ready, set, go! Winter is arriving for much of the nation this weekend. Even if your corner of the country does not experience wintry precipitation over the next few days, forecasters are predicting that about 90% of the U.S. will see below-average temperature readings.

Mercury to Plunge Downward for Large Swath of U.S.

While the big weather headlines this week will undoubtedly be the lake-effect snow machine delivering significant accumulation to Buffalo and beyond, a blast of Arctic air coming down from Canada will impact a far greater number of people. The cold air will bring the mercury down to levels that are most typically seen during the middle of the winter season. You can expect to see the coldest of the air stretching from the northern Rockies into the southern Plains.

Areas as far south as deep Texas will see the chilly weather. Temperatures will fall below zero in some parts of Montana and Wyoming while snow accumulates across the northern Rockies and into the lower elevations of the Front Range of Colorado.

The cold began to settle in across parts of the Upper Midwest beginning Thursday morning. For instance, the high topped out in the upper 20s in Minneapolis. The Twin Cities also had to deal with a stiff wind and sporadic snow that brought the real feel temperature down even farther. The temperature only reached the lower 30s in places such as Chicago and Milwaukee.

Potentially Record-Breaking Temperatures on Tap

The Arctic air moved into the northern Rockies and Montana late Thursday with the temperatures plummeting to as much as 35 degrees below average for the middle of November. Overnight low records may be challenged in many areas across Montana with lows leveling out well below zero.

It will be an unseasonably cold day in the Rockies with the cold air also starting to migrate into the Plains and the South Central U.S. to close out the work week. A large portion of the Rockies and nation’s heartland will see highs that never make it out of the 20s. Cities in this impact zone include Denver, Amarillo, Omaha, and Kansas City. The average highs for this time of the years in these cities are generally in the 50s. speaking to the drastic departure from normal.

The real feel temperatures will drop even lower. Much of the Dakotas and eastern portions of Montana and Wyoming will experience weather that feels up to 20 degrees below zero. Although it will not feel quite as cold in parts of Texas and Oklahoma, residents of these states may wake up to real feel readings around zero degrees on Friday with only slightly warmer weather on tap for Saturday.

Even in areas that see sun during this time period, the cold will remain anchored in place through Saturday. Local officials are cautioning residents to prepare for the cold. This is the time of the year when the bitter cold can catch people off guard if they are not properly dressed.

Texas Will See Unseasonably Cold Temperatures on Saturday

The mass of Arctic air will reach the south-central U.S. on Saturday. Major cities under the gun for the downright chilly conditions include Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. These normally temperate cities will see high temperature readings in the upper 40s for Saturday with the real feel hanging out in the low 30s.

Looking ahead to the Thanksgiving holiday week, the temperatures are forecast to moderate by early next week. The return of warmer southerly winds will start to push the mercury back up to seasonable levels as residents gear up to hit the road for the holiday.

For example, Denver will be back in the upper 40s by next week while Dallas and Kansas City will enjoy readings in the 50s. Until then, it is time to break out the heavy coats and all of the winter accessories.

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