On Wednesday morning, over 45 million people were subjected to bitterly cold temperatures, with wind chills dropping into the 20s and 30s across regions like the Northern Plains, Midwest, Ohio Valley, and parts of the Northeast.
This chill comes from cold air descending from Canada, which is being pulled into a high-pressure system over the northeast, resulting in these wintry temperatures across the northern tier.
However, a shift is on the horizon. Starting Thursday, temperatures are expected to warm up as high pressure moves offshore, with possibilities of reaching the 70s by the weekend.
Freeze warnings were issued for more than 40 million individuals in the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, marking this as one of the coldest moments of the current winter season.
Right when it looked like spring was taking over, swift-moving clippers swept across the Great Lakes into the Northeast on Tuesday, dropping 1 to 3 inches of snow in upstate New York and up to 7 inches in New England’s Green and White Mountains.
A secondary clipper also brought snow to southern Iowa and Nebraska early Tuesday, leading to winter weather warnings that were in effect through the morning rush.
Earlier in the week, light snow made an appearance in parts of upstate New York and New England, particularly in areas like Syracuse.
In Boston, while the ground was too warm for any meaningful accumulation on Tuesday morning, a few snowflakes were spotted in the air.
This chilly April snap comes on the heels of an exceptionally snowy winter for many in the Northeast and Midwest, characterized by several powerful storms that have blanketed the regions.
From extraordinary snow totals that broke records to relentless storms bringing feet of snow, some areas have been overwhelmed, leaving residents digging themselves out for extended periods.
The FOX Prediction Center notes that the interior Northeast usually sees its last significant snowfall by early to mid-April.
With conditions set to improve, temperatures will start to rise again. Milder weather is anticipated to bring highs in the 50s across the Northeast on Thursday.
By Friday, areas in the Mid-Atlantic, including Washington, D.C., may see temperatures reach into the mid-70s.
New York City is expected to feel the warmth by the weekend, possibly seeing highs in the 60s and even approaching 80 degrees by the middle of the following week.
New England should anticipate similar warmth, with mid-70s likely next week as spring takes hold over the next ten days.
