A strong cold snap is currently spreading across the US, bringing potential record lows for much of the country.
The abnormal cold is already being felt in places like Denver and will affect much of the Midwest, South and East, the forecast shows, including nearly all of the Lower 48 states.
The only exception, meteorologists say, will be the Sunshine State, which, true to its name, will last into the 1970s and 1980s.
Elsewhere, in places like North Texas, temperatures are about to drop like a rock as the cold front spurs record highs that have dipped below freezing as far back as the 80s.
When snow falls in places like Colorado and North Dakota, some regions will see temperatures in the 30s and 20s — and even single digits.
Low temperatures will continue to drop across the central and northern Rockies and Plains on Wednesday before reaching much of central and northern Texas; most of western Kansas and Oklahoma; and parts of Nebraska, Colorado (pictured), and even New Mexico
Because some snow has fallen in places like Colorado (photo: Boulder this weekend), some regions will see temperatures in the 30s and 20s – and even single digits
A strong cold snap is currently spreading across the contiguous United States, bringing potential record lows to much of the country
The cold air phenomenon started Monday and will peak later this week. As a result, approximately 60 million Americans – from the plains of the Lone Star State to the Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley – are under frost or freeze warnings.
Another 200 million people, experts say, are about to experience some form of unusually cold weather.
A statement from the Nation Weather Service alerted these citizens to the weather event, which spread Monday morning across places as far north as Cape Cod and as far south as Louisiana.
The alert, issued by the agency as this happened, told citizens in numerous cities — including Nashville, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City — to expect temperatures around 20 to 25 degrees below normal.
“A strong fall cold front will complete its journey across the CONUS (contiguous United States) by mid-week as it moves through the Gulf Coast and East Coast states this evening,” the statement said.
“In its wake, well below average temperatures will be under strong high pressure over the central United States and continue to shift eastward.
“Most of the impacts associated with this late October cold snap are in the form of overnight frosts and freezing temperatures,” the agency added, citing freezing temperatures currently being observed in places like Perryton, Texas.
“Freeze Warnings and Watches extend from central Arizona through the Southern Plains into the Midwest and Ohio Valley,” it continued — noting that farmers can count themselves lucky that the cold fronts are coming at a time when their growing seasons are already starting this week would end. .
The abnormal cold is already being felt in places like Denver (seen here Sunday after eight inches of snow fell over the weekend), and will affect much of the Midwest, South and East, forecasts show — including nearly all of the Lower 48 states
On Tuesday, more areas from the Plains to the East Coast will have temperatures well below average, but not below freezing
However, the coldest temperatures on Monday and Tuesday will be felt in the central and northern Rockies, as well as the northern Plains, according to the agency.
As a result, cities like Bismarck — which was bombarded with 10 inches of snow this weekend — and Park River, which picked up five feet of the white stuff, will dip into the teens and even single digits.
On Wednesday, low temperatures in those places — as well as in cities in Idaho, South Dakota and much of the central U.S. — will continue to drop before reaching much of central and northern Texas; most of western Kansas and Oklahoma; and parts of Nebraska, Colorado and even New Mexico.
Cities like Santa Fe, which typically record temperatures around 57 degrees this time of year, will dip “into the teens and twenties” during the day, the agency said — nipping a particularly chilling Halloween in the bud the night before.
“These temperatures are also about 20 to 25 degrees below average for this time of year,” the weather service noted, issuing a warning as the cold air was about to reach the East Coast.
The service warned that the remainder of the afternoon will see “a developing low pressure area from the Mid-Atlantic to the Gulf of Maine will help spread a widespread shield of precipitation across the Northeast.”
This is forecast to overlap with freezing temperatures already occurring in northern Maine, where winter weather advisories are currently in effect due to a forecast snowfall of 4 to 8 inches.
The cold air phenomenon started Monday and will peak later this week. As the weather mass moves east, several seasonal weather records could be broken in states, meteorologists warn. A motorist is seen clearing snow from his car in Denver on Sunday
Another product of the cold front is the fact that Texas will be virtually split in half weather-wise, with places like Perryton in the north reaching 19 degrees on Monday, while southern areas like Zapata will remain around 45 degrees.
Meanwhile, the Acela Corridor — the area in the Northeast made up of urban hubs like Washington, D.C., New York City and Boston — will experience temperatures in the low 40s at night, about 20 degrees cooler than normal.
On Tuesday, most areas from the Plains to the East Coast — including Cincinnati, St. Louis, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, Chicago and Pittsburgh — will have temperatures well below average, but not below freezing.
That said, highs will only return to the low 50s at best on Tuesday – marking a significant daily drop from last week’s record highs in places like Texas and Missouri.
There, flagships like Houston and Kansas City recorded unusually high temperatures in the 80s and 70s, creating almost unheard of daily drops of 40 degrees.
Another bizarre product of the cold front is the fact that Texas – which stretches 801 straight miles from north to south and 773 miles from east to west – will be virtually cut in half weather-wise, with places like Perryton to the north ready for the future. Monday will reach 19 degrees, while southern areas such as Zapata will remain around 45 degrees.
“Two seasons, one state,” meteorologist Pat Cavlin tweeted Sunday as Perryton saw daytime temperatures just below 30 degrees, while the mercury in Zapata reached 94 degrees.
The front will bring a significant daily drop from the record highs seen last week in places like Houston (pictured), where unusually high temperatures were recorded in the 80s last week – creating a nearly unprecedented daily drop in temperatures . 40 degrees
A graph posted by the weather expert highlighted this disparity, pointing out the 65 degree difference.
On Tuesday, lows in parts of Oklahoma and Texas are expected to drop into the 20s and 30s before spreading eastward Wednesday morning.
As it moves east, several seasonal weather records could be broken in states stretching from Texas to the Ohio Valley. Cities like Topeka, Kansas, and Springfield – along with Kansas City – in Missouri could see record falls as temperatures there dip into the teens.
Oklahoma City also could see a new coldest temperature on record by Wednesday morning, if a 1993 high of 16 degrees is eclipsed.