Central and eastern portions of the U.S. are bracing for another blast of cold weather for the first few days of May, just as spring temperatures had finally started to percolate.
The upcoming cold outbreak followed record and near-record early season heat across the East Coast earlier this month, where cities including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Atlantic City logged their earliest 90-degree days in over a decade, FOX Weather reported.
Why It Matters
Potential freeze and frost alerts pose risks to early vegetation and agriculture, with some locales expecting below average temperatures after recently high ones.
What To Know
According to Tampa Bay’s WFLA-TV Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli on X Friday, “The Cold Won’t Quit!”
“The first few days of May will feature another cold plunge of air in the East! Summer on hold… for now,” he added in part. “The chill will reach into the Northern half of #Florida, but probably not to S FL.”
Another recent weather pattern also brought heavy mountain snow, high winds and subfreezing temperature warnings to parts of the western U.S. this week. Montana, Wyoming and Idaho are facing warnings as winter weather and frost advisories stretch across the region.
In Montana, a freeze warning says in part on Friday night, “Sub-freezing temperatures as low as the teens expected. There is a 90 percent chance for a hard freeze in populated areas above 2500 feet.”
When Does Colder Weather Arrive?
National Weather Service (NWS) Meteorologist Richard Bann told Newsweek via phone on Friday night that “The Climate Prediction Center sees a system building out of Canada coming the beginning of May.”
Bann added that “the Great Lakes and Ohio, Appalachians and Mississippi Valleys will have the greatest risk for much below average temperatures for the region.” NWS Meteorologist Scott Kleebauer said they will likely hit from April 30 to May 4, and by May 5, temperatures will moderate.
“The mid-Atlantic area may also see colder temperatures than on average,” Bann added.
On X, the NWS Climate Prediction Center said on Friday, “An unseasonably cold pattern is favored across most of the central and eastern US end of April into early May. Possible much below normal temperatures and near freezing low temperatures across parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region could damage early blooming crops.”
What Happens Next
Specific impacts, warnings and watches are immediately unknown nearly a week ahead of the predicted weather.
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