Blast of cold could lead to historic low temperatures across eastern U.S.
By
Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer
Published May 8, 2020 9:19 PM EST
Temperatures on Saturday morning could drop to historic lows across the eastern United States, breaking and tying some record lows in a multitude of cities.
"When you compare the strength of the polar vortex this time of year to normal, the portion that will be over upstate [New York] Saturday morning will be the strongest in the northern hemisphere," Senior Meteorologist Bob Smerbeck said.
He said the coming cold weather is "very unusual" for the month of May.
State College, Pennsylvania, is expected to hit a low of 27 with some snow even expected in the early hours. The brisk temperature will tie with the town's record low for May.
State College will be hitting unusually cold temperatures consistently through the month of May. Since 1983, only 2005 has seen more than one day in May reach temperatures lower than 32. This year, however, May is forecast to reach less than 32 for two days, including the tie with the record low that is forecasted for Saturday.
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The statistic probability of the temperature in State College reaching lower than 33 degrees is less than 7%, AccuWeather Senior Weather Editor and Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell said.
In May of 1966, temperatures in Philadelphia reached below 35 four times. Since 1966, Ferrell said there have only been three years (1970, 1978 and 1986) where a single day reached temperatures that low in May. Friday night is forecast to reach a low of 34, with an AccuWeather RealFeel temperature of 22.
The area will bounce back soon enough, though, as Smerbeck said the city will reach 75 by next week.
Further inland, Columbus, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Detroit, Michigan; and Syracuse, New York, could all break record lows on Saturday morning.
"The low temperatures expected Saturday morning could be historic," Ferrell said.
"New York City, which is forecast to see a low temperature of 36 Saturday, hasn't seen temperatures that cold in May since 1966," Ferrell said.
Cities across North Carolina will feel the cold Saturday morning as well, with many tying or getting close to their lowest recorded temperatures for May.
Asheville, North Carolina, is expected to hit a low of 28, which will tie with their all-time low May record set on May 8, 1989. Greensboro will get close to, but not tie, their current record of 32 from 1989. The low for Saturday is expected to reach 33 for the city. Hickory will have a low of 33, just a few degrees off from May's record low of 30.
While the cold may stick around for a bit, Smerbeck said there is an end in sight.
"The Polar Vortex and the cold will be with us through the middle of next week. Then the Polar Vortex will lift to the north into Canada and the jet stream will become more zonal, or east to west late next week," Smerbeck said. "And hopefully never come back."
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Weather News
Blast of cold could lead to historic low temperatures across eastern U.S.
By Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer
Published May 8, 2020 9:19 PM EST
Temperatures on Saturday morning could drop to historic lows across the eastern United States, breaking and tying some record lows in a multitude of cities.
"When you compare the strength of the polar vortex this time of year to normal, the portion that will be over upstate [New York] Saturday morning will be the strongest in the northern hemisphere," Senior Meteorologist Bob Smerbeck said.
He said the coming cold weather is "very unusual" for the month of May.
State College, Pennsylvania, is expected to hit a low of 27 with some snow even expected in the early hours. The brisk temperature will tie with the town's record low for May.
State College will be hitting unusually cold temperatures consistently through the month of May. Since 1983, only 2005 has seen more than one day in May reach temperatures lower than 32. This year, however, May is forecast to reach less than 32 for two days, including the tie with the record low that is forecasted for Saturday.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
The statistic probability of the temperature in State College reaching lower than 33 degrees is less than 7%, AccuWeather Senior Weather Editor and Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell said.
In May of 1966, temperatures in Philadelphia reached below 35 four times. Since 1966, Ferrell said there have only been three years (1970, 1978 and 1986) where a single day reached temperatures that low in May. Friday night is forecast to reach a low of 34, with an AccuWeather RealFeel temperature of 22.
The area will bounce back soon enough, though, as Smerbeck said the city will reach 75 by next week.
Further inland, Columbus, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Detroit, Michigan; and Syracuse, New York, could all break record lows on Saturday morning.
"The low temperatures expected Saturday morning could be historic," Ferrell said.
"New York City, which is forecast to see a low temperature of 36 Saturday, hasn't seen temperatures that cold in May since 1966," Ferrell said.
Cities across North Carolina will feel the cold Saturday morning as well, with many tying or getting close to their lowest recorded temperatures for May.
Related:
Asheville, North Carolina, is expected to hit a low of 28, which will tie with their all-time low May record set on May 8, 1989. Greensboro will get close to, but not tie, their current record of 32 from 1989. The low for Saturday is expected to reach 33 for the city. Hickory will have a low of 33, just a few degrees off from May's record low of 30.
While the cold may stick around for a bit, Smerbeck said there is an end in sight.
"The Polar Vortex and the cold will be with us through the middle of next week. Then the Polar Vortex will lift to the north into Canada and the jet stream will become more zonal, or east to west late next week," Smerbeck said. "And hopefully never come back."
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo