Record low temperatures are expected in parts of the southeastern part of the country, while millions will feel the coldest air of the season.
Important points
Cold wave from Texas to North Carolina
Frost and frost alerts freezing are in effect from Texas to North Carolina through Monday, with highs between 10 and 20 degrees below normal. By then, some 200 million people will experience this drop.
More than 100 million Americans from Boston to Tampa will experience a foretaste of winter from a powerful cold front that will bring the coldest air of the year beginning Sunday and through much of next week.
Arctic air and sub-zero temperatures
Even Tallahassee (Florida) could record its first frost before New York, with near-freezing values on Tuesday.
A deep trough in the jet stream will advance across the Great Lakes and Midwest, spreading polar air south and east. Temperatures will be 15 to 25 °F below average from the Plains to the East Coast. In 35 states, more than 170 million people will see the thermometer drop below 32 °F.
The wind will cause wind chill to be even lower in the Midwest and interior northeast, with values in the low single digits. The Great Lakes could receive more than 30 cm of snow in one of the first significant winter events of the year.
Persistent cold during the week
Arctic air will linger much of the week, with the coldest temperatures of the year in many cities across the eastern part of the country. Minneapolis, St. Louis, Detroit and Pittsburgh will dawn with temperatures in the 20s °F, while Atlanta, Dallas and Nashville will hover in the 30s °F.
In the Deep South, 20 to 35 mph winds will make the cold feel even more intense. Atlanta and Birmingham could remain above freezing all day with temperatures just above freezing.
Florida will also feel the blow
The first big freeze of the season will hit Florida: lows will fall well below average and could break all-time records in the Southeast, including parts of South Florida. Cities like Jacksonville, Huntsville, Savannah and Meridian could match or exceed century-old records on Tuesday.
In central Florida, Tampa and Orlando will go from 85°F on Sunday to temperatures near 40°F on Tuesday morning.
Although the winter respite will be brief, the cold will be intense before temperatures return to normal mid-week.
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