Early Winter Weather Grips the US
A significant and unseasonably early cold snap is forecast to sweep across a large portion of the United States this weekend, bringing the first taste of wintry weather to many. The system is predicted to deliver snowfall to the Northern Plains and potentially break daily cold records in the South, signalling a sharp departure from the mild autumn conditions.
Judah Cohen, a research scientist at MIT, described the incoming weather system as a “shot across the bow,” highlighting its surprising early arrival.
Snow Forecast for the Northern Plains
According to Ashton Robinson Cook, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center, the Dakotas and parts of southern Minnesota are at the highest risk for snowfall from late Friday through Saturday morning. Some areas could see accumulations of 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 centimetres).
At the Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot, North Dakota, staff have begun their cold weather preparations. “We've gotten pretty lucky as far as we haven't gotten anything yet, or the cold weather just now has come,” said General Curator Chelsea Mihalick. African animals, including a giraffe calf born on Sunday, are already inside heated buildings. While some animals like tigers love the snow, this will be the first snowfall for cubs born in May, making it a new experience for them.
Record-Breaking Cold Push Heads South
The dramatic temperature drop is driven by a front spreading from the Northern Plains to the South. Friday's temperatures in the 60s and 80s (15 to 27 Celsius) across the central US are expected to plummet. By Sunday, highs will likely remain in the 30s in parts of Nebraska, Iowa, and northern Missouri, with the chill spreading into Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas.
“It’s a little bit unusual to have this strong of a cold push this early in the season,” Cook remarked.
The cold air is forecast to push into the southern US by Monday, potentially setting daily record lows on Tuesday. The predicted records include:
- 24°F in Knoxville, Tennessee
- 26°F in Birmingham, Alabama
- 32°F in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- 40°F near Orlando, Florida
This sudden freeze is causing concern for outdoor events. In Molena, Georgia, organisers of the Molena Bigfoot Fest are hoping the cold holds off until after the festival concludes on Saturday evening. Alla Drake, an assistant city clerk, confirmed that most activities, including animal shows and music performances, are planned for outdoors.
Fortunately, the cold spell is expected to be brief. Warmer temperatures are forecast to return to much of the central and southern US starting on Wednesday and Thursday.
“This is a brief cold snap. It won't stay around very long,” Cook confirmed.
