Temperatures are drop rapidly throughout the central and eastern regions of the United States as a powerful cold front moves across the nation. This sudden change in weather brings frost and freeze warnings to sixty million Americans. The cold temperatures are expected to continue toward the East Coast later in the week, making for a bone-chilling Halloween.
Over the weekend, the Rocky Mountains experienced heavy snowfall and even thundersnow. Parts of Denver received up to 10 inches of snow, making it the fifth-largest early-season snowstorm on record. The northern Rockies and northern Plains also saw a significant amount of snowfall, with North Dakota receiving over a foot of snow in some areas.
Although the cold weather is expected to be short-lived, a warm-up is predicted for the West later in the week and will extend eastward by the beginning of next week.
On Monday morning, the cold front stretched from Cape Cod to southeast Louisiana, with temperatures dropping 15 to 25 degrees along the front. Prior to the front, record-breaking temperatures were seen in various cities, including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and New York City.
Now, the cold air is making its way to the East Coast, causing temperatures to drop dramatically. The Acela Corridor is expected to experience temperatures in the 40s overnight, with highs only reaching the low 50s on Tuesday.
The speed at which the temperatures have dropped is astonishing. In Perryton, Texas, temperatures fell 16 degrees in just 40 minutes. Houston also experienced a rapid temperature drop of 40 degrees in 15 hours, tying the record for the most dramatic temperature drop in the city during autumn.
Interestingly, the cold front in Houston was so distinct that it could be seen on radar. It also created a rope cloud, a slender cord of cloud cover. Kansas City went from a high of 77 degrees on Wednesday to 39 degrees on Friday.
The cold air also brought heavy snowfall to the Rockies and northern Plains. Montana received 11 inches of snow, while areas west of Denver received over a foot of snow. Thundersnow was even reported in eastern Park County, Colorado. More thundersnow is possible over the Great Lakes on Tuesday.
Overall, this sudden shift in weather has brought wintry conditions to parts of the United States that were still experiencing late-season warmth. Although the cold front is expected to be temporary, it is a stark reminder that winter is on its way.
