First freeze of the season threatens millions in the US. See where - USA Today
Millions of people across the United States are bracing for cold temperatures as a surge of cold air brings the season's first frost or freeze to several major cities.
AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said the cold air could bring the first hard freeze of the season to parts of the Midwest, Ohio Valley and South beginning the night of Nov. 13.
By then, about 230 million people can expect to feel temperatures below average, according to the FOX Forecast Center. Morning lows could fall into the 30s or lower across many areas by the weekend.
The cold air is moving east behind a strong cold front, while a coastal storm brings rain to parts of the Northeast and the potential for snow in higher elevations. The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center said the cold front will send temperatures well below normal across much of the central and eastern United States from Nov. 14 to Nov. 15.
Although the cold snap is not expected to break records, it will mark a significant change after weeks of unusually mild autumn weather in many areas.
Several states across the Central Plains, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Southeast are forecast to experience their first freeze of the season. Those include:
Major cities in the forecast include Omaha, Nebraska; Kansas City, Missouri; Chicago; Detroit; Louisville, Kentucky; Indianapolis; and Roanoke, Virginia, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
In the Central Plains, overnight lows could fall into the mid-to-upper 20s. Temperatures in the Great Lakes region could struggle to reach the low 40s during the day, with overnight lows dropping below 20 degrees in some areas.
The cold air will push toward the Gulf Coast and Florida, although freezing temperatures are expected to remain north of Florida's state line.
Northern Florida could see overnight lows in the upper 30s and low 40s, with patchy frost possible in some inland areas. Central Florida is forecast to see lows in the mid-to-upper 40s, while South Florida could remain in the upper 50s, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
The potential for freezing temperatures extends beyond Florida. AccuWeather meteorologist Tyler Roys previously told USA TODAY that overnight temperatures from northeastern Texas to northern Florida and along the Interstate 95 corridor in the Carolinas could fall into the lower-to-middle 30s, with colder locations reaching the 20s.
Several hours below freezing could damage sensitive crops and bring an end to the growing season in some communities, Roys said.
The cold snap is expected to be relatively short-lived. The FOX Forecast Center said temperatures in the central United States are expected to warm next week, while colder conditions could linger longer in parts of the East.
The Weather Prediction Center said the coastal storm could bring accumulating snow to higher elevations of New York and northern New England, as well as parts of the Appalachians. Lake-effect rain and snow are also expected near the Great Lakes through Nov. 13.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonUSAT
