Arctic cold to surge in waves behind Monday's bomb cyclone into new year for central, eastern US
Renewed cold is on deck for much of the central and eastern United States in the days ahead. In the north, the cold will be accompanied by a biting wind. In the Southern states, the temperature plunge will be a shock.
With plenty of cold and opportunities for snow in the forecast in the Midwest and Northeast, now’s the time to get ahead with the free AccuWeather app and one of its main features, WinterCast.
The same storm, capable of producing blizzard conditions with near-hurricane-force winds around the Great Lakes into Monday night, will direct frigid air in its wake through the Midwest and Northeast and even bring some chills to the south-central and southeastern United States in the week ahead.
Shifting bands of lake-effect snow and clipper storms will accompany the cold waves, making for treacherous travel in the Midwest and Northeast.
Harsh cold from early December returns; reality check for Southern states
While the air will not be as abnormally cold as it was in early December, this upcoming cold wave will bring temperatures some 10 degrees Fahrenheit lower than historical averages in late December and early January.
Temperatures will plunge on the back end of the blizzard in the Upper Midwest into Monday.
For example, in Minneapolis, temperatures will plummet from the mid-30s late Sunday to the single digits on Monday morning, rise slightly during the day on Monday and then plunge below zero on Monday night.
In Philadelphia, after temperatures surge to nearly 60 degrees on Monday, they will plunge into the 20s Monday night and struggle to rise above freezing on Tuesday.
Even in much of the Southern states, following a long string of days with temperatures challenging record highs, the new weather pattern will be a bit of a shock.
In Atlanta, highs over the past five to seven days have been in the 60s and 70s, or 10-20 degrees above the historical average. By Monday on through much of this week, highs in the 40s to the mid-50s will be common with a breeze most days.
Farther west, such as around Houston, near-record highs in the 80s will be swapped with highs in the 50s and 60s for a few days starting on Monday.
Beware of freeze-ups, lake effect and snow squalls
As the leading edge of the cold air sweeps in behind the Arctic front through the Ohio Valley Sunday and the Appalachians on Monday, a rapid freeze-up may occur with snow showers in some cases. Temperatures will plunge from the 30s and 40s to the 20s and teens. Roads, sidewalks and parking lots may transition from wet to a sheet of ice in a matter of minutes.
Flurries, squalls and bands of lake-effect snow will set up downwind of the Great Lakes through the week and vary from day to day. Lake-effect snow will blend in on the backside of the storm in Michigan and northwestern Indiana on Monday.
The bands of lake-effect snow will tend to shift around and turn on and off from one day to the next as multiple clipper storms cause winds to change direction over the week.
Buffalo, New York, will get into bands of heavy lake-effect snow on more than one occasion. A prominent band may hang around the city for a time on Tuesday.
Clipper storms to bring general snowfall
Temperatures will briefly rebound several degrees ahead of a weak clipper storm on Tuesday around the Upper Midwest and parts of the Northeast on Wednesday.
As the first clipper travels southeast from central Canada on Tuesday to portions of the Northeast on Wednesday, snowfall associated with it will tend to dwindle but can amount to an inch or two in parts of the Upper Midwest.
A second clipper storm will be hot on its heels about 24 hours later with a similar track.
However, the second clipper storm will be somewhat stronger and larger, resulting in more extensive snowfall, generally ranging from a coating to a couple of inches with locally higher amounts.
This clipper will travel from near the North Dakota/Canada border on Wednesday to northern New England on New Year's Day. Some cities that may receive enough snow for slippery travel conditions include Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Albany, New York.
Factoring in where the heaviest bands of lake-effect snow overlap with snow from the big storm into Monday night and the subsequent clipper storms that roll through, some areas within a few dozen miles of the Great Lakes may receive between 48 and 60 inches of snow through this week.
Harsh winds to herald arrival of Arctic air
Along with the rounds of cold air, snow and lake effect, there will be bouts of gusty winds.
The strongest winds are forecast in the immediate wake of the bomb cyclone into Monday night. Gusts ranging between 40 and 60 mph are in store with locally higher gusts approaching hurricane force around the Great Lakes.
"Such strong winds will lead to power outages, downed tree limbs and airborne holiday decorations," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bill Deger said.
Winds will kick up a bit in the vicinity of the first clipper storm from Tuesday to Wednesday. Strong wind gusts may develop around the second clipper storm from Wednesday to Thursday.
The combination of wind, moisture and other factors may result in RealFeel® Temperatures that are 10-20 degrees lower than the actual temperature for much of the week ahead. Care should be taken when spending time outdoors in such conditions. If traveling, be sure to pack a blanket, gloves and a warm hat along with a winter coat in case of an automobile incident.
New Year's Eve sneak peek for Times Square
For revelers hovering at Times Square in New York City on New Year's Eve, snow flurries are forecast with actual temperatures in the low 30s F. However, a gusty wind will create AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures in the teens much of the time, with a risk of hypothermia for those not properly dressed and standing outside for extended periods. The harshest winds will be at the intersections. Buildings along the avenues and Broadway will offer some shelter from the west wind.
Crews will have removed the snow in Times Square from Friday's snowfall. On New Year's Day, flurries may also linger around New York City, as well as in Philadelphia, for the Mummer's Parade as the second clipper storm sweeps through.
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