A blast of Artic air is set to unleash bone-chilling temperatures into the weekend across much of the central and eastern U.S. Parts of the Great Lakes and Northeast face multiple feet of snow during one of the nation's busiest travel periods.

The core of the Arctic air will be concentrated in the northern Plains and upper Midwest into early next week, with highs in the single digits, teens and 20s, according to AccuWeather. The National Weather Service warned the region, some of which has already begun to experience heavy, lake-effect snow, to brace for "dangerously cold wind chills."

Over the long holiday weekend, the cold air will push south and east, plunging temperatures to near freezing from central Texas to northern Florida and up to New York. Even for areas familiar with Arctic air, the looming front will drop temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below historical averages for the end of November and early December.


By Saturday morning, about 196 million Americans will be waking up to below-freezing temperatures, according to Weather.com. For the millions in states along the Interstate 95 corridor, "this will be the coldest start to meteorological winter in years," according to AccuWeather.

Here in Southern California, a few clouds and mild, tranquil weather will cap the long Thanksgiving holiday.

Story Date: November 30, 2024