Drivers hit the road during lake-effect snow in upstate New York.
Drivers braved treacherous road conditions as localized heavy lake-effect snow and squalls affected central New York
Say goodbye to the thaw of January.
A brutal arctic cold front is expected to hit much of the central, eastern and southern United States over the next few days, bringing temperatures well below average as far south as Florida.
After an unseasonably warm and dry start to the week, cold weather will finally return east of the Mississippi River on January 14th as a series of cold fronts merge over the Ohio Valley this afternoon (January 14th), according to the National Weather Service.
“While this cold front is not expected to set any records, tomorrow (January 15) will feel even colder across much of the eastern United States as the Arctic High pressure system brings daytime highs down by 10 to 20 degrees across the board,” the National Weather Service said in its Jan. 14 online forecast.
New surge in Arctic air due to polar vortex
“Another influx of arctic air is expected to dominate the central and eastern United States through late January, bringing significant temperatures and snowfall,” AccuWeather said. AccuWeather meteorologists say an active polar vortex could bring the coldest conditions of the winter into early February.
“We are poised to see a potentially historic Arctic ‘polar vortex’ eruption across North America (and Eurasia) toward the end of January,” Weather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue said in an email to USA TODAY.
What about snow?
Temperatures aside, the strong northwesterly flow behind the front will concentrate heavy lake-effect snow in the snow belt north of the Great Lakes, the National Weather Service said. “The heaviest lake impact is expected along the southeast shore of Lake Michigan, where 8 to 12 inches of snow is expected through Thursday, January 15.”
Meanwhile, wintry weather will bloom in the Ohio Valley and Northeast as rain turns to snow on January 14th. “Moderate to locally heavy snow is expected to continue into tomorrow, January 15th, with snow amounts of 3 to 6 inches (locally 8 to 10 inches) expected in parts of the Appalachians and the Tug Hills of New York.”
cold in the south
“A strong cold front will move through the southeastern United States Wednesday night (January 14) and Thursday (January 15), bringing much colder air to the region,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson said in an online forecast.
High temperatures on January 15 are expected to be in the 30s in cities like Nashville and Atlanta. Temperatures will be in the low 50s in New Orleans and Tallahassee, Florida.
Low temperatures are expected to drop into the 20s in cities like Jacksonville and Tallahassee, and into the 30s in cities like Orlando and Lakeland, according to AccuWeather.
“Inland areas of central Florida could experience freezing conditions Thursday (January 15) night,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Hawk.
A freeze watch will be in effect for much of north and central Florida the night of January 15th and 16th.
Overall, AccuWeather warns that a sudden change to sub-zero temperatures could stress crops, strain the energy grid and impact transportation across the South. “The persistent cold will likely continue into early next week, with the jet stream moving southward, keeping temperatures below historical averages.”
