The Midwest and parts of the East and South got a bit of a shock on Saturday as cooler-than-usual temperatures chilled people from Maine through to the northern tip of Georgia and through Michigan and Minnesota. While it is not all that unusual to have lower temperatures in those areas by the end of October, to have them at the beginning is more rare.
On the heels of the colder temperatures may well be the season’s first snows as well. Meteorologists were predicting Saturday could see some snowfall in the Appalachians. Yet, conversely, the Plains and Rockies were predicted to see summerlike temperatures instead.
What is causing the cold front in the Northeast and across the Midwest?
Primarily, the winds and rain left over from Typhoon Roke. Roke swept over Japan last week before heading toward the U.S. and Canada. Earlier this week saw it hovering over British Columbia, and the weekend will see it continue to impact the U.S.
In addition to the colder temperatures, the winds are expected to continue throughout the weekend as well. They are likely to remain strong enough to break branches off trees, but not to cause any serious damage.
Where is it likely to snow?
Snow isn’t likely in most of the low-lying parts of the Northeast or Midwest. But higher spots, particularly near or in the Appalachians, are likely to experience that magical mix of temperature and humidity that will bring the first flakes of the season. Snow is expected in some parts of Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New York over the weekend.
If the Northeast and Midwest are so cold, why are the Plains and Rockies so hot?
The cold in the Northeast and Midwest is being caused by the low pressure system associated with Typhoon Roke. The heat in the Plains and Rockies is being caused by an opposite high pressure system. That’s why parts of Michigan got into the 20s and 30s, yet the Plains and Rockies saw 70s and 80s. Both extremes are unusual this time of year.
Will either extreme continue past the weekend?
Not really. The Northeast and Midwest should level off to more normal-for-the-season temperatures after Roke’s effects pass. The Plains and Rockies are then expected to cool, most likely by the middle or toward the end of next week, as the pressure drops. Meteorologists are predicting the area may well see snow around that time.
The terrain of the Plains and Rockies means the low pressure system that’s moving toward those areas will have a slightly different impact than it has in the Northeast and Midwest. The risk of high-wind warnings and the potential to spread wildfires in those areas will keep people on higher alert.