On Tuesday, over 190 million Americans experienced an arctic cold snap, with many facing temperatures that were 15 to 25 degrees below normal in the eastern half of the United States, particularly in the South, while some areas saw record lows.
A significant drop in the jet stream acted as a conduit for polar air from Canada, well ahead of meteorological winter.
Communities near the eastern Great Lakes in the Midwest and Northeast are bracing for a strong lake-effect snowstorm this weekend, stretching into Monday, with the final storm anticipated to hit on Tuesday.
Interestingly, snow made its way as far south as Blairsville, Georgia, on Tuesday night, with sporadic flurries reported in Atlanta.
Lancaster County in northeastern South Carolina was covered in fresh snow on Monday night.
Storm chaser Mike Boylan captured impressive footage of a snowstorm in the highlands of Roan Mountain, Tennessee.
Southern cities like Mobile, Alabama, Savannah, Georgia, and Tampa, Florida, recorded their coldest temperatures on record.
Orlando also felt the chill, dropping to 37 degrees, marking the coldest November morning in nine years.
Tallahassee experienced freezing temperatures on Tuesday morning, which was actually colder than some major northeastern cities, including New York City and Boston.
A cold weather advisory is currently in effect for southern Alabama, southern Georgia, much of the Florida Panhandle, and parts of central Florida.
As of Tuesday morning, freeze warnings extend from Louisiana to Virginia along the Gulf and Southeast coasts.
Fortunately, this arctic preview is expected to be short-lived, with temperatures likely rising across the country by Wednesday.
Final Stages of Lake-Effect Snow in Eastern Great Lakes
In the meantime, wind chills in the Midwest and interior Northeast may plunge into the teens, leading to another round of lake-effect snow.
Westerly winds are projected to bring heavy snowfall to the eastern shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
The FOX Prediction Center indicates that the highest snow accumulation will occur just inland from the lake shore, particularly at Chautauqua Ridge, which climbs to about 400 feet.
Areas like Ashtabula County in southwestern Ohio, Erie and Crawford counties in southern Pennsylvania, and Chautauqua County in western New York are expecting significant snowfall, possibly adding an additional 5 to 8 inches.
