A significant blast of arctic air is poised to sweep across the Upper Midwest and Northeast next week, delivering an early preview of winter conditions to millions. Temperatures in Florida, currently in the 80s this week, are forecast to plummet into the 50s by Monday.
This dramatic temperature shift comes as warm water temperatures persist across the Great Lakes, setting the stage for lake-effect snow in areas like Grand Rapids, Michigan, Cleveland, and Buffalo, New York. Interior parts of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are also expected to see snowfall. the FOX Forecast Center anticipates more precise rain and snowfall totals will become available in the coming days.
The cold air is expected to spread eastward into Tuesday, impacting locales in the interior Northeast. Typically, Boston and similar lower-elevation areas experience their first snowfall in the final weeks of november, while the rest of the country usually sees its first flakes in December.
This early cold snap is occurring as forecasters monitor the progress of a La Niña winter pattern, which historically influences weather across the United States.