Thursday, October 24, 2013

Cold Temperatures Engulf Central, East; Snow in Midwest, Great Lakes


A couple of cold air masses have surged into the central and eastern states this week, as a dip in the jet stream dominates to the east of the Rockies.
Here are the details on this late-October chill, including where we could see freezing temperatures, record lows and additional snow.

Late-October Chill

Background

Friday's Highs

Friday's Highs
Background

Friday's Departure From Average Highs

Friday's Departure From Average Highs
Background

Saturday AM Lows

Saturday AM Lows
The surges of cold air have dropped temperatures 5 to 20 degrees below average from the Midwest to much of the East Coast. As the forecast maps (at right) illustrate, many locations across these regions will experience highs in the 40s and 50s through Friday.
High temperatures on Friday may not get out of the 50s as far south as Tennessee, North Carolina, and northern parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
Of course, morning temperatures will be even colder.
Many locations in the Midwest will continue to see lows in the 20s and low 30s through Friday morning. Additionally, low temperatures in the 30s and a few upper 20s are possible as far south as northern Georgia and northern Alabama by Saturday morning.
(LOWS: Fri | Sat)
Since this is the coldest air of the season so far, many locations are seeing their first frost or freeze of the season this week. This is particularly the case from the southern Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley, middle Mississippi Valley, middle Missouri Valley, interior Southeast and portions of the Northeast/Middle Atlantic to the west of I-95.
Some daily record lows may be threatened both Friday and Saturday morning in these areas, including CincinnatiNashvilleKansas CityHuntsville, Ala., and Charlotte.

Snowflakes Flying in the Midwest, Great Lakes

Background

Snow Forecast

Snow Forecast
With the cold air in place, we've seen some snowflakes flying through the air in the Midwest and Great Lakes in the last few days.
International Falls, Minn., saw its first measurable snow of the season this past weekend. Snowflakes were also observed inFargo, N.D. and Duluth, Minn.
Tuesday, the season's first snow fell in parts of Iowa and western Illinois. Here are some calendar-day snowfall totals:
  • Waterloo, Iowa: 1 inch (Only two dates have seen an earlier one-inch snow day:  Oct. 18, 1991 {1.2 inches} and Oct. 20, 1982 {1.2 inches})
  • Davenport, Iowa: 2.5 inches
  • Moline, Ill.: 0.4 inches (Only two dates have seen an earlier measurable snowfall:  Sep. 25, 1942 {0.1 inches} and Oct. 18, 1972 {2 inches})
  • Chicago (O'Hare Int'l Airport): Trace
Wednesday, some wet snow was reported in Dayton, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, Garrett County, Md. and Beech Mountain, N.C.
Thursday afternoon, 6 inches of snow was reported in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, east-northeast of Cleveland. Roads were reported as snow covered and trees were reportedly downed from the heavy, wet snow. 
Up to 4 inches was measured to the east of Lake Ontario in Glenfield.
(INTERACTIVE: When Does Snow Arrive?)
According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, Ohio:  From Thursday evening to Friday morning, an additional 5 to 8 inches of snow is possible for eastern parts of the Cleveland Metro, especially in eastern Cuyahoga and Geauga counties. A narrow area of northwest Pennsylvania, further from Lake Erie, are forecast to get an additional 7 to 9 inches of snow over the same period.

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